ILLINOIS  HISTORICAL  SURVEY 


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GOLDEN    MEMORIES 


AN   EARNEST   LIFE 


A  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.  WHITING: 

TOGETHER  WITH   SELECTIONS  FROM 

HIS  POETICAL  COMPOSITIONS  AND  PROSE  WRITINGS. 

COMPILED  BY  HIS   SISTER, 

R.   AUGUSTA  WHITING. 

INTRODUCTION 
By    REV.'j.    M.   PEEBLES. 


His  years,  'tis  true,  were  few ; 
His  life  was  long. 


We  live  in  deeds,  not  years ; 
In  thoughts,  not  breaths. 


BOSTON: 
WILLIAM    WHITE    AND    COMPANY, 

"Banner  of  Light"  Office, 

No.   158    Washington    Street. 

1872. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1872, 

By   R.  AUGUSTA   WHITING, 

In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


Stereotyped  at  the  Boston  Stereotype  Foundry, 
19  Spring  Lane. 


it.  092  rf/x 

5^W 


SPIRITUALISTS  OF  AMERICA, 

WHOSE  CAUSE   HE   SERVED  THROUGH   LIFE  AND  WITH   HIS   LATEST 

STRENGTH;  TO  THE  MUSIC-LOVING  WORLD  THAT  CLAIMED 

HIS  FELLOWSHIP;   TO  THE  FRIENDS  WHO  LOVED 

HIM;    AND    TO    THE    LOVERS    OF  FREE 

"THOUGHT  AND  FREE  SPEECH 

EVERYWHERE, 

V#$  grief  Peraorial-SUtorfc, 

THE  LIFE-STORY  OF  A  FIRM  AND  CONSISTENT  ADVOCATE    OF  THE 

SCIENCE,  PHILOSOPHY,  AND  RELIGION  OF  SPIRITUALISM; 

A    TUNEFUL    SOUL,  A    FAITHFUL    FRIEND,  AND 

RESOLUTE  DEFENDER  OF  PRINCIPLE 

UNDER  ALL  CIRCUMSTANCES, 

IS  MOST  RESPECTFULLY  DEDICATED 
BY  THE  AUTHOR. 


10 


PREFACE. 


Despite  well-established  custom,  I  would  willingly  waive 
the  privilege  of  delaying  the  reader  with  prefatory  remarks, 
were  it  not  that  I  desire  to  acknowledge  courtesies  re- 
ceived, and  state  a  few  explanatory  facts,  for  which  there 
seems  no  other  suitable  place. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  my  brother's  earth-life,  I  began 
to  be  urged  by  friends  —  visible  and  invisible  —  to  under- 
take the  task  of  preparing  for  the  press  a  resume  of  his 
life  and  labors.  I  was  assured,  by  those  who  best  knew 
him  and  the  world,  that  a  record  of  his  career  and  peculiar 
experiences  could  not  fail  to  be  of  interest,  not  only  to  the 
many  who  knew  him  in  his  public  capacity,  but  to  a  large 
class  of  minds  who  seek  to  learn  concerning  unusual  phases 
of  life  and  mental  phenomena.  Circumstances  had  rendered 
me  the  most  —  if  not  the  only — -suitable  person  to  per- 
form this  labor.  While,  therefore,  I  felt  keenly  the  re- 
sponsibility of  the  undertaking,  I  felt  equally  that  which 
would  rest  upon  me  should  I  withhold  aught  that  might 
tend  in  the  slightest  degree  to  benefit  the  world  or  more 
deeply  enshrine  his  memory. 

I  accepted  the  task,  and  arranged  my  material  as  time 
would  permit,  but  was  not  able  to  enter  upon  the  work 
until  January,  1872.  Simultaneously  occurred  my  en- 
trance upon  the  rostrum ;  but,  for  the  succeeding  four 
months,  the  most  of  my  time  was  given  to  this  work,  and 
also  the  intervals  between  lectures  since  that  time. 

My  material  has  been  ample,  —  consisting  of  a  journal 

5 


6  PREFACE. 

extending  from  1852  to  1862,  and  complete  files  of  letters 
from  the  latter  date  down.  To  this  is  added  my  own 
perfect  knowledge  of  his  life  during  later  years,  and  copi- 
ous data  furnished  by  other  parties,  whom  it  would  be 
impossible  to  mention  in  detail,  but  to  all  of  whom  I  desire 
to  offer  my  sincere  thanks. 

I  have  abridged  as  much  as  possible,  and  generally 
preferred  to  relate  facts  without  note  or  comment.  Of 
course  a  sketch  of  this  kind  can  contain  but  a  very  small 
portion  of  all  the  events  of  a  life,  and  the  selection  of  those 
most  prominent  is  no  easy  task  when  so  much  must 
remain  untold.  I  have  endeavored,  as  far  as  possible,  to 
confine  myself  to  the  principal  events  of  his  public  life,  giv- 
ing only  those  of  a  private  character  which  had  a  mold- 
ing influence  upon  his  public  career.  For  the  rest,  —  the 
rich  joys  and  deep  sorrows  of  the  inner  life,  which  words 
are  too  poor  to  hold,  —  they  belong  to  those  who  loved 
him,  to  the  friends  who  knew  him  true,  and  any  attempt 
at  their  portrayal  would  not  only  be  vain,  but  needlessly 
expose  to  public  gaze  matters  sacred  to  private  life. 

For  the  frequent  mention  of  myself  in  the  course  of  the 
narrative  I  have  no  apology  to  offer ;  for,  from  that  far- 
off  day  when  he  took  me  in  his  arms  and  soothed  my 
baby  grief,  to  that  other  day  when  mine  sustained  his 
failing  strength,  the  fibers  of  our  lives  have  been  so  inter- 
twined, that  it  is  impossible  to  entirely  separate  the  closely- 
woven  threads.  The  faint  outline  contained  in  Chapter  II. 
will  perhaps  explain  this  as  well  as  I  am  able  to  do.  It  is 
for  this  reason  that  I  have  chosen  not  to  attempt  to 
conceal  my  personality,  lest  in  so  doing  I  should  be  guilty 
of  a  mere  refinement  of  egotism,  and  have  only  claimed 
the  reportorial  privilege  of  alluding  to  myself  in  the  third 
person  in  relating  those  events  which  occurred  previous  to 
my  own  remembrance. 


PREFACE.  7 

As  the  major  part  of  the  narrative  was  written  at  our 
home  (Albion,  Mich.),  I  have  maintained  that  stand-point 
throughout,  —  although  a  portion  has  been  compiled  else- 
where, —  during  a  lecture  engagement  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  a 
visit  to  the  town  of  our  birth,  and  a  stay  of  some  weeks  in 
this  city. 

I  wish  to  add  a  few  words  in  reference  to  the  contents 
of  Part  Second.  The  poems  are  not  presented  as  models 
of  metrical  composition,  but  as  purely  improvisations. 
They  were,  without  exceptiou,  written  entirely  impromptu, 
and  as  rapidly  as  hand  could  move  a  pencil,  and  were 
never  either  corrected  or  copied  by  him.  I  have  chosen, 
however,  to  present  them  entirely  unchanged,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  supplying  obvious  omissions.  I  do  not  consider 
them  equal  in  literary  merit  to  his  usual  spoken  improvisa- 
tions \  nor  did  he,  but  always  complained  of  the  impos- 
sibility of  writing  fast  enough  to  catch  the  lines  as  they 
traversed  his  thought,  and  consequent  blunders  in  tran- 
scription. It  was  partly  for  this  reason  that  of  late  years 
he  had  almost  abandoned  the  attempt  to  write  anything 
save  the  words  of  his  songs.  Those  were,  for  the  most 
part,  as  I  have  stated  elsewhere,  composed  simultaneously 
with  the  music,  while  sitting  at  the  instrument,  and  written 
down  from  memory  afterward. 

Those  comprised  under  the  heading  "  Published  Songs" 
are  included  here  by  permission  of  the  several  publishers. 
They  are  issued  in  sheet  music  form,  as  follows  :  — 

Groups  I.  and  II.,  by  J.  L.  Peters,  New  York,  N.  Y. 
Groups  III.  and  IV.,  by  Whittemore,  Swan  &  Stephens, 

Detroit,  Mich. 
Group  V.,  by  C.  J.  Whitney  &  Co.,  Detroit,  Mich. 
Group  VI.,  by  J.  S.  White  &  Co.,  Marshall,  Mich. 
Group  VII.  will  be  found  in  the  M  Spiritual  Harp." 


8  PREFACE. 

I  have  hesitated  whether  I  should  include  here  the 
words  of  two  songs  which  were  not  entirely  his  composi- 
tion, but  have  decided  to  do  so,  with  this  explanation,  in 
order  that  the  list  may  be  complete.  I  allude  to  the  piece 
entitled  "0,  tell  me  not  of  Fields  of  Glory,"  which  was 
written  by  me  at  his  request,  after  he  had  composed  the 
music,  and  that  called  "  The  Outcast,"  the  substance  of 
which  was  furnished  him  by  a  lady  friend,  and  by  him 
adapted  to  music,  with  the  addition  of  the  refrain  and  the 
name,  Evyrr  Allynn. 

Under  the  head  of  "  Unpublished  Songs,"  I  have  gath- 
ered a  few  poems,  the  music  for  which  was  never  completed, 
or  has  been  lost.  Besides  these,  he  has  left  a  number  of 
complete  compositions,  which  I  contemplate  arranging  for 
publication  uniform  with  his  other  music,  as  soon  as  time 
will  permit,  and  which,  therefore,  are  not  included  here 
for  obvious  reasons. 

As  I  take  leave  of  my  completed  task,  it  is  with  the 
earnest  hope  that  the  result  may  not  wholly  disappoint  the 
expectations  of  those  by  whose  solicitation  and  encourage- 
ment it  was  undertaken,  however  much  it  may  fall  short 
of  my  ideal  of  what  might  be  compiled  in  the  way  of  an 
interesting  and  instructive  narrative  —  a  worthy  tribute  to 
his  memory. 

It  may  fail  to  command  any  general  attention,  any 
marked  recognition  at  the  hands  of  the  public ;  yet  I  dare 
dream  that,  at  least,  many  will  gladly  welcome  it  for  the 
sake  of  the  pleasant  memories  it  evokes,  and,  so  dreaming, 
am  content. 

R.  Augusta  Whiting. 

Boston,  July  16,  1872. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

Introduction.        .        . .15 


PART    FIRST. 
BIOGRAPHY   OF  A.   B.   WHITING. 
CHAPTER  I. 

Birth  and  Lineage.  —  Does  Blood  tell  ? 25 

CHAPTER  II. 

Childhood.  —  Natural  Spiritual  Sight.  —  Brother  and  Sister.  — 
First  Bereavement.  —  The  Mystic  Tie 30 

CHAPTER   III. 

School-days.  —  Temporary  Withdrawal  of  the  Clairvoyant  Gift.  — 
Consequent  Skepticism. 38 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Removal  to  the  West.  —  Return  of  the  opened  Vision.  —  Intro- 
duction to  Spiritualism.  —  Wonderful  Mediumistic  Experiences. 
—  Debut  as  a  Public  Lecturer  at  the  Age  of  eighteen.         .        .    42 

CHAPTER  V. 

First  Eastern  Tour,  and  Trips  through  the  West.  — Incidents.  — 
Media  met  with.  —  Close  of  first  Year  of  Public  Life.  —  The 
Compact 55 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Second  Appearance  in  Boston.  —  The  Harvard  Professors.  —  Pro- 
fessor Felton  selects  Subjects  for  Improvisation.  —  Extracts 
from  the  Boston  Press.  —  First  Trip  to  the  far  South.  —  Return 

Home  in  April,  1858 64 

9 


10  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

In  New  England  again.  —  Signs  of  Progress.  —  Recall  Home  in 
January,  1859.  —  Sickness  and  Death  of  his  Father.  —  Sorrow 
and  Consolation 79 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

A  Trip  begun  with  strange  Experiences,  and  prematurely  ended. 

—  The  Revenge  of  outraged  Nature The  Death-trance  and 

weary  Journey  Home.  —  Convalescence.  —  Debut  as  an  Author.     83 

CHAPTER  IX. 

The  new  Spirit  Guide.  —  The  two  Portraits.  —  Removal  to  Albion. 

—  Early  Acquaintance  with  Dr.  Slade.  —  Debate  with  Rev.  Jo- 
seph Jones,  at  Decatur,  Mich.  —  Kentucky  in  War  Time  (Sep- 
tember, 1861). —Legally  ordained  July,  1862.  ...     87 

CHAPTER  X. 

As  a  Composer  of  Music.  —  Publication  of  the  first  eight  of  his 
Songs.  —  Debate  with  an  Adventist  at  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.  — 
Eastward  again  (March,  1864).  —  Spirit  Pictures.      .        .        .97 

CHAPTER  XL 

Chicago  Spiritual  Convention  of  1864.  — His  Position  therein. — 
Political  Views.  —  Lectures  in  Chicago  during  the  Session  of  the 
Democratic  National  Convention.  —  Trip  through  Canada.  — 
The  Campaign  of  1864.  —  First  Appearance  in  the  political  Are- 
na. —  Kentucky  in  November.  — Not  captured  by  Guerrillas.  — 
Abandoned  Projects 103 

CHAPTER  XII. 

An  unwelcome  Theme.  —  Enemies,  and  how  they  were  baffled.  — 
A  Glimpse  behind  the  Scenes.  —  Snares  that  could  not  entrap, 
and  Poison  that  could  not  slay.  —  Powers  mundane  and  supra- 
mundane Ill 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

New  Successes  in  the  East.  —  Washington  and  the  South  after  the 
War.  —  Lectures  in  Cincinnati  And  Louisville.  —  Persons  met 
with  and  Things  seen.  —  J.  M.  Peebles  and  the  "Western  De- 
partment of  the  Banner  of  Light."  —  Contemplated  Debate  at 
St.  Johns,  Mich. —History  thereof. 122 


CONTENTS.  11 

CHAPTER   XIV. 

1867,  1868.  —  Washington  again. —Dissolution  of  the  "Thirty- 
ninth  Congress."  —  Dr.  Ferguson  and  other  Spiritual  Celebri- 
ties. —  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  —  Rochester  and  Elder  Miles  Grant.  — 
Louisville,  Ky.  —  Sun-stroke.  —  In  the  Sick  room.  — J.  O.  Bar- 
rett and  the  "Spiritual  Harp." — State  Spiritualist  Association 
at  Jackson,  January,  1868.  —  Alcinda  Wilhelm  Slade.      .         .  139 

CHAPTER   XV. 

Buffalo.  —  Abraham  James.  —  Genesee  Conference.  —  Home.  — 
The  "  New  Constitution."  —  Its  Defeat.  —  A  Pleasure  Trip,  with 
Variations.  —  Cape  Cod  Spiritualist  Camp  Meeting.  —  Musical 
Data.  —  Presidential  Campaign  of  1868.  —  His  Participation 
and  Popularity  therein.  —  At  the  great  Mass  Meetings  of  this 
State.  —  Final  Triumph  at  Jackson. — Last  great  Effort  upon 
the  political  Rostrum.  —  Physical  Exhaustion.  —  Another  De- 
bate which  did  not  come  off. 150 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

1869, 1870.  — Last  Visits  to  New  England,  Philadelphia,  and  Louis- 
ville. —  The  last  Birthday.  —  A  New  Year's  Gift,  and  its  Useful- 
ness. —  Days  of  Suffering. 159 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Feebleness  of  Body  and  Strength  of  Spirit.  —  Last  Lectures  at 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  at  Port  Huron,  Farmington,  and  Milford, 
Mich.  —  Home  and  Rest.  —  On  the  Threshold  of  Eternity.  — 
Farewell  Address.  —  The  great  Transition.  —  Funeral  Services 
at  Albion,  and  Honors  to  his  Memory  elsewhere.        .         .         .  167 

TO   WHICH   ARE   APPENDED 

Selections  from  Press  Obituaries. 178 

Memorial  Sermon  of  J.  M.  Peebles,  at  Louisville.         .        .        .  186 
Memorial  Poem,  by  Mrs.  L.  E.  Bailey. 194 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Concluding  Words.  —  His  Lectures  and  Improvisations.  — Favor- 
ite Subjects 196 


12 


CONTENTS. 


PART   SECOND. 
EARLY  POEMS. 


Music. 

Pro  Libertate. 
In  Memoriam, 
O,  Think  of  Me  ! 


WRITTEN   IMPROVISATIONS. 

1855-1857. 


PUBLISHED   SONGS. 
Group  I.     "  Three  Heart  Offerings. 
Lena  de  L'Orrae.  ..... 

By  the  Side  of  the  Murmuring  Stream. 

Touch  the  Lute  gently.  .... 


page 
205 
206 
207 

208 


Float  on ! 

. 

. 

.     210 

I  Loved. 

. 

. 

211 

The  Fount  of  Light. 

. 

. 

.     213 

The  Star  of  Truth. 

. 

. 

215 

True  Love. 

. 

* 

.     216 

Happiness. 

. 

. 

221 

A  Legend  of  Earth  and  Air. 

. 

. 

•     227 

She  was  a  Rose. 

. 

. 

238 

Hope. 

• 

. 

.     241 

FRAGMENTARY 

POEMS. 

The  Good  Old  Days. 

... 

.     244 

Ye  Mill  and  ye  Wheels. 

. 

. 

253 

From  Hope  to  Knowledge.  . 

. 

•          • 

.     255 

Album  Lines. 

. 

.          . 

256 

The  Feast  of  Belshazzar.    . 

• 

. 

.     257 

UNPUBLISHED 

SONGS. 

The  Banner  of  Peace.    . 

_            , 

.          . 

259 

Strike  boldly,  and  Fear  not ! 

. 

. 

.     261 

Come,  bright  Menona ! 

. 

. 

262 

Welcome  to  Peace  (1865). 

. 

. 

.     263 

265 
266 
267 


CONTENTS.  13 

Group  II.     "  Sparkling  Gems." 


Adieu,  Leonore.        ..... 

Leoline.   .  .  .  . 

You  well  know,  my  Beloved. 

Land  of  the  so-called  Dead.      .... 

Maid  of  Glenore.      .  ..  .  .  '         . 

Group  III.     "Flowers  from  the  "West. 
O,  hear  my  parting  Sigh.  .... 

Medora.         ...... 

O,  tell  me  not  of  Fields  of  Glory. 
The  Wind  is  in  the  Chestnut  Bough. 


268 
269 
270 
270 
271 


273 
274 
275 
276 


Pride  of  Elsinore.  .  .  .  .  .  .277 

Group  IV.     "  Golden  Memories." 
Whene'er  in  Sleep  the  Eyelids  close.  ....     278 

Sweet  be  thy  Dreams,  Alida.     .  279 

Group  V. 

Spirit  of  Light,  Love,  and  Beauty.        ....  280 

Aminta  Mia.              .            .            .            .            .            .  .281 

Lela  Trefaine.     .......  281 

Group  VI. 

Evyrr  Allynn ;  or,  The  Outcast.      .            .            .            .  .283 

Old  Doctor  Bonds.          ......  284 

Group  VII. 

Strike  the  Harp  in  Nature's  Praise.            .  285 

Waiting,  only  Waiting.               .....  287 


ABSTRACT   OF  LECTURE 

Delivered  before  the  Young  Men's  Lecture  Association  at  Mar- 
shall, Michigan,  February  25,  1870,  on  "The  Ideal  and  the 
Real."        .  .  ...  .  .  .  .289 


INTRODUCTION. 


"  Presumptuous  skepticism,  which  rejects  facts  without  examination 
of  their  truth,  is  in  some  respects  more  injurious  than  unquestioning 
credulity."  —  Baron  Humboldt. 

"  Before  experience  itself  can  be  used  with  advantage,  there  is  one 
preliminary  step  to  make,  which  depends  wholly  on  ourselves :  it  is 
the  absolute  dismissal  and  clearing  the  mind  of  all  prejudice,  from 
whatever  source  arising,  and  the  determination  to  stand  and  fall  by 
the  result  of  a  direct  appeal  to  facts  in  the  first  instance,  and  a  strict 
logical  deduction  from  them  afterward." — Sir  John  Herschel. 

"  Spiritualism  is  at  once  a  science  and  a  religion,  based  upon 
tangible  fads."—  Prof.  S.  B.  Brittan. 

"Behold  how  they  loved  him."  —  Gospel  of  John. 

Human  life  is  twofold,  —  physical  existence  and  spiritual 
consciousness,  —  and  history  is  its  story. 

In  the  University  of  Strasburg  there  flourished  in  the 
early  part  of  this  century  a  worthy  student  of  nature,  who, 
during  thirty  years  of  toil,  collected  and  classified  a  museum 
of  facts.  The  industry  was  admirable  ;  continental  schol- 
ars were  grateful ;  but  this  gathering,  this  numbering  of 

items,  these  labeled  skeletons,  strung  with  nicest  precision, 

15 


16  INTRODUCTION. 

did  not  constitute  history.  The  inspiration  of  living  genius 
was  wanting. 

Facts  are  as  paints  and  brushes  to  artists.  They  sym- 
bolize ideal  truths,  and,  if  rightly  applied,  picture  real  life. 
Instead  of  being  considered  as  isolated  phenomena,  facts 
must  be  studied  in  connection  with  their  causes.  They 
must  be  resolved  into  groups,  and  put  in  relational  order. 
Then,  master  minds,  tracing  the  consequences  that  uni- 
formly follow,  may  reach  and  announce  logical  conclu- 
sions. This  is  properly  the  method  of  inductive  study, 
and  relates  to  those  physical  manifestations  connected  with 
the  science  of  Spiritism. 

Traversing  in  thought  the  mystical  river  of  time,  it  is 
clearly  seen  that  humanity  is  but  an  aggregate  of  indi- 
viduals, and  that  biography,  though  a  record  of  personal 
motive  and  action,  is  fraught  with  almost  infinite  conse- 
quences. 

Seeing  is  knowing.  Eulogy  and  invective  are  equally 
blind.  To  fully  measure,  to  really  profit  by  the  life  of 
another,  we  must  grasp  the  hand,  hear  the  voice,  feel  the 
heart  beat,  watch  the  ebb  and  flow  of  fortune,  suffer  the 
stings  of  partial  defeat ;  and,  considering  the  rapid  march 
of  the  truth  mutually  loved,  join  with  fellow-pilgrims  also 
in  peans  of  gladness. 

Intimacy  of  this  kind  not  only  conduces  to  happiness 
and  fraternal  sympathy,  but,  giving  opportunities  for  genu- 
ine insight  into  the  mysterious  currents  of  being,  it  unrolls 
the  life-leaves  of  character  and  reveals  the  man. 

These  were  just  the  privileges  granted  us  by  our  neighbor, 


INTRODUCTION.  17 

friend,  and  co-worker  in  the  cause  of  Spiritualism,  A.  B. 
Whiting,  while  a  resident  of  Michigan. 

Each  individual  is  not  only  a  radiating  center  of  force, 
but  a  spirit  —  a  conscious  spirit,  now  existing  in  harmony 
with  the  lyrical  principles  of  the  universe,  though  encased 
in  a  mortal  body.  And  it  is  a  proposition  too  plain  to  re- 
quire proof,  that  wherever  the  spirit  or  mind  can  reach, 
there  it  can  observe  ;  and  wherever  it  can  observe,  there  it 
can  induct ;  and  wherever  it  can  induct,  there  it  can  dis- 
cover. This  Baconian  train  of  reasoning,  made  practical, 
bridged  the  two  worlds,  —  the  to-day  and  the  to-morrow  of 
existence,  —  leaving  the  gates  of  immortality  ajar.  Long- 
fellow, aflame  with  the  inspiration  of  spirit  communion, 
sings  that 

*'From  the  world  of  spirits  there  descends 
A  bridge  of  light  connecting  it  with  this." 

As  Protestantism  in  Luther's  time  was  a  protest  against 
Roman  Catholicism,  so  Spiritualism  is  a  protest  against 
this  puritanical  Protestantism,  that  constructs  creeds, 
cramps  the  intellect,  crushes  the  soul's  aspirations,  and 
throws  a  vail  of  doubt  over  a  future  conscious  existence,  by 
denying  the  reality  of  present  converse  with  the  world  of 
spirits. 

Protestant  theology,  though  voiced  from  thousand  pul- 
pits, has  proved  to  be  the  barren  fig  tree  of  the  eighteenth 
and  nineteenth  centuries.  Angels  and  advanced  souls  in 
the  heavens,  seeing  the  utter  failure,  initiated  the  spiritual 
dispensation.     The  opening  cycle,  recognizing    the    mes- 


18  INTRODUCTION. 

sage,  the  cradle,  the  manger-home,  was  in  Hydesville,  N.  Y., 
a  place  of  more  note  than  Nazareth,  in  Syria. 

If  "  holy  women  of  Palestine,"  mediumistic  and  intui- 
tive, were  the  first  to  announce,  "  He  is  not  here,  but 
risen,"  good  and  true  women  in  the  morning  hour  of  this 
spiritual  era  were  the  first  to  devise  the  method  for  trans- 
lating these  telegraphic  tickings  into  readable  language, 
revealing  the  progress  and  conscious  blessedness  that  ob- 
tain in  the  love-lands  of  the  angels  ! 

Modern  Spiritualism,  complementing,  differs  from  that  of 
Jesus  and  John  only  in  the  superior  number  of  its  manifes- 
tations, in  the  increasing  variety  of  its  marvels,  the  better 
understanding  of  its  philosophy,  the  general  concession  of 
its  naturalness,  and  its  wider  dissemination  through  the 
different  grades  of  society. 

The  rapid  diffusion  of  the  divine  principles  involved  in 
Spiritualism  has  astonished  conservatives.  Heaven-born 
and  angel-guarded,  it  already  occupies  an  enviable  posi- 
tion. The  march  of  the  movement  has  been  marvelous ; 
it  is  cosmopolitan  ;  its  banner  floats  beneath  all  skies,  and 
its  sun  of  inspiration  illumines  the  most  distant  islands  of 
earth.  English  thinkers  have  admitted  it  into  the  fold  of  the 
sciences.  Professor  William  Crookes,  an  eminent  chemist, 
Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society,  and  editor  of  the  "London  Quar- 
terly Journal  of  Science,"  has,  in  a  recent  issue,  an  extensive 
review  of  Robert  Dale  Owen's  "Debatable  Land,"  under 
the  heading,  ?'  Notices  of  Scientific  Works."  The  dis- 
tinguished English  naturalist  and  writer  upon  the  Dar- 
winian   philosophy,     A.     R.   Wallace,     treating    of     the 


INTRODUCTION.  19 

"  Spiritualism  "  in  the  "  Debatable  Land,"  says,  "  It  is  cer- 
tainly, as  Mr.  Owen  maintains,  a  science  of  itself;  a  uew 
science,  and  one  of  the  most  overwhelming  importance  in 
its  bearings  upon  philosophy,  history  and  religion." 
These  and  other  admissions  of  learned  men  on  both  conti- 
nents mark  an  era  in  our  progress,  putting  "  Spiritualism  " 
squarely  before  the  world  as  a  science  ! 

u  The  promise  still  outruns  the  deed  — 
The  tower,  but  not  the  spire,  we  build.'' 

Among  the  faithful,  energetic  workmen,  who,  early  en- 
tering the  vineyard,  aided  to  bring  about  this  recognition 
of  Spiritualism  as  a  science,  this  public  acknowledgment 
of  its  moral  worth  and  beauty  as  a  mighty  redemptive 
power  in  the  world,  was  A.  B.  Whiting,  now  risen  and 
robed  in  the  vestures  of  immortality.  The  blood  of  a  noble 
ancestry  flowed  in  his  veins.  He  was  born  a  seer.  In  the 
sunny  years  of  childhood  he  was  considered  strange,  be- 
cause he  saw  angels  and  conversed  with  the  gods.  This 
juvenile  clairvoyance  had  much  to  do  in  shaping  his  future. 
It  was  to  him  a  light  from  heaven.  Immortal  teachers,  in 
lute-like  words  of  promise,  prophesied  a  career  before  him 
of  great  usefulness.  While  the  flush  of  early  youth  was 
upon  his  cheek,  few  fully  comprehended  him.  Mystics 
given  to  glimpsing  visions  delight  to  be  alone.  In  a 
higher  sense,  media,  as  stars  in  constellations,  are  never 
alone.  Converse  with  celestial  visitants  bears  but  little  re- 
lation to  solitude. 

Commencing  his  public  labors  as  a  trance-speaker  some- 


20  INTRODUCTION 

time  during  the  year  1855,  he  continued  in  the  field,  under 
the  inspiration  of  his  efficient  spirit  guides  till  his  transla- 
tion to  the  Better  Land,  winning  laurels  and  golden 
opinions  as  an  improvisatore,  speaker,  public  debater,  and 
poet.  The  songs  that  gave  such  zest  to  his  services  were 
original  words  and  music. 

As  a  lecturer  upon  the  rise  and  fall  of  civilizations,  and 
upon  ecclesiastical  history,  touching  its  relations  to  re- 
ligious persecution  on  the  one  hand,  and  Spiritualism  upon 
the  other,  he  had  no  equal  upon  the  rostrum.  Sentences 
dropped  from  his  lips  like  pearls,  chaining  and  charming 
the  multitude.  His  controlling  intelligence  when  speaking 
was  Giovanni  Farini,  an  Italian  poet  and  cardinal,  flour- 
ishing early  in  the  seventeenth  century.  Another  of  his 
ministering  spirits  was  an  ancient  wise  man  of  the  East,  or, 
as  he  termed  himself,  "the  old  man  of  the  mountains,"  — 
Ab-del-Murett-el-Zuleke.  When  under  the  direct  influ- 
ence of  this  eccentric  sage,  who  passed  to  the  higher  exist- 
ence early  in  the  twelfth  century,  Mr.  Whiting  was  truly 
a  prophet,  changed  and  transfigured.  This  is  the  nature  of 
positive  spirit  influence ;  it  affects,  fashions,  molds  media, 
more  or  less,  into  the  image  of  those  who  pour  upon  them 
currents  of  baptismal  magnetism.  Conscious  of  this,  aware 
of  the  fountain  from  whence  flowed  his  spiritual  strength 
and  inspiration,  our  noble  co-laborer  awarded  the  honor, 
like  a  true  man,  to  his  attending  guides. 

For  the  monument  of  Thermopylae,  where  fell  the  brave 
three  hundred,  Leonidas  wrote  this  epitaph  :  "  Stranger,  go 
and  tell  in  Lacedaemon  that  we  fell  here  in  defense  of  her 


INTRODUCTION.  21 

laws."  With  cause  for  greater  gratitude,  let  us  tell  to 
future  time  the  story  of  our  media  and  comrade's  deeds  in 
lecture-fields,  with  a  monument  that  shall  say,  "  Pil- 
grims journeying  to  that  bourn  beyond  the  crystal  river,  go 
and  proclaim  through  the  limits  of  the  land,  that  we,  soldiers 
of  truth,  —  we,  media  for  the  manifestations,  —  by  over-work, 
sacrificed  our  lives,  and  found  premature  graves,  in  tlue  de- 
fense of  the  principles  of  the  spiritual  philosophy." 

What  matters  it  though  no  flinty  obelisk  point  to 
heaven ;  though  no  broken  column  symbolize  a  fading 
mortality  ;  though  no  sculptured  rose,  drooping  on  its 
shattered  stem,  or  gorgeous  pile,  indicate  the  place  of  the 
changing  dust  ?  There  are  hallowed  memories  and  blissful 
recollections  of  our  loved,  that  necessarily  live  and  bloom 
in  perpetual  loveliness,  live  when  marble  pillars  have  crum- 
bled to  their  primitive  atoms.  Representative  men,  and 
the  principles  they  elucidate,  are  on  earth  immortal. 

With  a  thinking  public,  A.  B.  Whiting  was  a  favorite  ; 
with  intimate  friends,  he  was  cordially  beloved.  Besides 
his  mediumship  and  his  music,  he  had  many  qualities  to 
win  esteem.  Charitable,  candid,  and  honorable,  his  his- 
tory is  full  of  instruction  and  encouragement  to  others. 
With  him  friendship  was  a  principle,  and  honor  the  true 
badge  of  loyalty.  Deeply  do  we  sympathize  with  the 
mother,  the  sister,  and  the  extensive  circle  of  friends  and 
admirers.  But  the  Spiritualism  of  which  he  was  an  able 
and    eloquent  exponent  gives  us  positive  assurance  that 


22  INTRODUCTION. 

we  shall  meet  him,  know  him,  and  love  him  in  the  upper 
kingdoms  of  eternity ! 

"  O,  pale  grew  the  robing  that  folded  the  mountain, 
And  wrapped  its  grieved  face  in  a  sorrowing  spray, 
Exhaled  the  last  heart-drop  from  Poesy's  fountain, 
When  he  sang  with  angels,  at  breaking  of  day. 

"  Be  his  in  Valhalla  the  throne-room  of  glory, 
The  scepter  of  poets,  the  crown  he  has  won, 
The  purple  of  spirits ;  and  ours  be  the  story, 

The  sweet  rhythmed  life  which  at  morning  was  done." 

J.  M.  Peebles. 
Hammonten,  New  Jersey. 


PART   I 


BIOGRAPHY 


23 


BIOGRAPHY. 


CHAPTER  I. 

BIRTH  AND  LINEAGE.  —  DOES  BLOOD  TELL? 

The  month  of  December,  1835,  was  a  time  long  re- 
membered in  the  annals  of  New  England  as  the  cold 
December.  On  the  12th  of  the  month  a  heavy  snow- 
storm had  fallen,  making  the  roads  impassable  in  many- 
places  until  the  labor  of  men  and  teams  had  cut  away 
the  huge  drifts.  The  cold  was  intense,  and  had  been 
so  continuous  that  it  is  chronicled  (vide  "Hill's  Me- 
teorological Index")  as  an  unusual  circumstance  that 
"on  the  14th  it  thawed  a  little  in  the  sun."  On  the 
morning  of  that  14th  of  December,  in  the  village  of 
East  Abington,  Mass.,  the  subject  of  this  biography  made 
his  entrance  into  a  cold  world  in  the  most  literal  sense. 
But  a  warm  welcome  awaited  the  little  stranger  in  the 
home  he  came  to  gladden,  a  home  of  which  he  was  the  sun- 
shine and  joy  all  his  days,  and  over  whose  desolate  hearth 
his  loving  spirit  still  watches  from  the  eternal  hills. 

The  town  of  Abington,  which  is  situated  upon  the  Old 
Colony  Railway,  midway  between  Boston  and  Plymouth, 
was  also  the  birthplace  of  both  his  parents.  His  father, 
Albert  Whiting,  was  born  in  1803,  and  during  his  youth 
and  early  manhood  saw  something  of  travel  and  adven- 
ture, both  by  sea  and  land,  acquiring  thereby  broader 
views  of  life  than  were  common  in  his  time.     He  was  a 

25 


26  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

man  of  few  words,  but  a  close  thinker ;  and  when  he  did 
speak,  his  words,  few  and  well  chosen,  always  carried 
weight.  Pre-eminently  calm  and  gentle  in  all  the  rela- 
tions of  life,  few  persons  ever  saw  him  moved  to  anger ; 
yet  this  not  on  account  of  any  lack  of  sensitiveness,  but 
from  a  natural,  inherent  power  of  self-control,  which  is 
a  strongly-marked  trait  in  all  the  members  of  his  family. 
Indeed,  this  peculiar  power,  together  with  accurate  and 
scholarly  habits  of  thought,  is  clearly  traceable  through 
successive  generations  back  even  to  that  remote  German 
ancestor,  who,  seeking  in  the  then  wilds  of  Virginia  an 
asylum  for  free  thought,  brought  with  him  all  the  lore 
and  culture  of  a  great  German  university,  while  leaving 
behind  his  baronial  title  as  so  much  dross.  The  mother 
of  Albert  Whiting  was  a  woman  of  superior  mental  en- 
dowments ;  and  from  her  family  he  inherited  the  musi- 
cal talent  which  he,  in  turn,  transmitted  to  his  children. 

Of  her,  further  mention  will  be  made  in  the  course  of 
this  narrative,  as  she  lived  to  an  advanced  age,  and 
formed  a  prominent  feature  in  the  early  mental  land- 
scape of  her  grandson. 

Albert  Whiting  was  the  eldest  of  five  children,  of 
whom  the  other  four,  two  brothers  and  two  sisters,  sur- 
vive him  and  still  reside  in  Eastern  Massachusetts.  On 
March  9,  1835,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Rachel  Bennet,  then  of  East  Bridgewater,  she  having 
removed  from  her  native  town  on  her  mother's  contract- 
ing a  second  marriage,  with.  Mr.  David  French,  of  East 
Bridgewater.  This  lady,  the  mother  of  the  subject  of 
this  biography,  was  of  English  descent,  and  of  a  family 
allied  by  blood  and  affinity  to  many  of  the  noblest 
names  of  English  history  ;•  noble,  not  alone  in  rank  and 
title,  but  in  the  true  nobility  of  intellect  and  culture. 


BIRTH  AND  LINEAGE.  27 

Such  names  as  Marlborough,  Witherell,  North,  Guil- 
ford, and  Dudley,  need  no  prefix  to  render  them  illustri- 
ous, least  of  all  that  brave  old  Dudley,  who,  himself  ac- 
cused of  sorcery  on  account  of  his  great  learning  and 
spiritual  gifts,  not  only  signally  discomfited  his  ac- 
cusers in  his  own  case,  but,  although  then  advanced  in 
years,  took  a  long  and  tedious  journey,  traveling  night 
and  day,  in  order  to  defend  certain  persons  who  were 
on  trial  for  the  alleged  crime  of  witchcraft,  causing  their 
triumphant  acquittal,  and  by  his  eloquence  producing 
such  an  effect  that  that  was  the  last  trial  for  witchcraft 
that  ever  disgraced  the  soil  of  England. 

Rachel  Bennet  was  born  in  1801,  and  was  the  fourth 
of  six  children,  of  whom  she  is  now  the  sole  survivor, 
although  her  brothers  and  sisters,  with  one  exception, 
attained  to  an  age  beyond  the  average  of  human  life. 
Indeed,  her  mother's  family,  the  Gardners,  were  remark- 
able for  longevity,  her  mother  reaching  her  ninetieth 
year,  and  her  maternal  grandfather  his  ninety-second. 
Her  paternal  grandmother  also  lived  to  an  advanced 
age,  a  fair  and  stately  lady,  a  little  proud  withal,  and 
devoted  to  the  memory  of  the  husband  who,  in  the 
prime  of  manhood,  laid  his  life  upon  his  country's  altar 
during  the  dark  days  of  the  revolution.  Her  eldest  son, 
George,  the  father  of  Rachel  Bennet,  also  died  in  middle 
life,  having  served  through  the  war  of  1812,  and  re- 
turned home  only  to  battle  a  few  years  with  consump- 
tion, and  then  pass  tranquilly  on  to  that  future  life 
which  none  of  his  race  ever  feared  or  dreaded,  and  of 
which  many  of  them  were  able  to  catch  faint  glimpses 
while  yet  dwelling  in  the  flesh.  His  daughter  Rachel, 
who  was  about  twenty  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  had  inherited  to  a  great  extent  his  mental  organ- 


28  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

ism  and  acute  spiritual  perceptions ;  and  it  was  feared 
that  she  would  also  develope  the  same  consumptive  ten- 
dency. She  had  been  slender  from  childhood,  and  now, 
worn  out  with  watching  and  anxiety,  her  symptoms  be- 
come so  alarming  to  her  friends  that  it  was  thought  im- 
peratively necessary  to  remove  her  from  the  keen  air  of 
the  seaboard  for  a  time.  Accordingly  she  was  sent  to 
reside  with  an  uncle  in  the  western  part  of  the  state,  a 
long  journey  in  those  days  of  stage-coaches,  about  equal 
to  a  trip  across  the  continent  now.  There  she  remained 
two  years,  growing  well  and  strong  among  the  hills  of 
Hampshire,  and  returned  to  Abington  rejoicing  in  a 
bodily  vigor  which  she  had  never  known  before.  Three 
years  later,  on  her  mother's  second  marriage,  as  before 
mentioned,  she  accompanied  her  to  her  new  home  in 
East  Bridgewater.  Seven  years  passed  on,  and,  though 
more  than  one  good  and  honorable  man  would  gladly 
have  shared  with  her  his  home  and  name,  she  hearkened 
to  the  inward  voice,  which  bade  her  be  true  to  her  own 
soul,  and  kept  on  the  even  tenor  of  her  way,  untroubled 
by  that  silly  dread  of  the  title  of  "old  maid,"  which 
drives  so  many  girls  to  loveless  wedlock. 

It  was  during  a  visit  to  her  oldest  brother,  then  re- 
siding in  Abington,  that  she  made  the  acquaintance  of 
Albert  Whiting.  Both  were  in  the  prime  of  life ;  both 
of  that  noble  and  engaging  presence,  which,  springing 
not  from  mere  physical  beauty,  but  from  something  with- 
in and  beyond,  seldom  fails  to  attract  attention  and  win 
regard.  Their  fathers  had  been  friends  in  youth ;  each 
found  in  the  mind  of  the  other  many  points  of  sympa- 
thy and  mental  kinship ;  and  the  mutual  interest  thus 
awakened  grew  and  strengthened  into  a  firm  and  en- 
during affection,  that  true  conjugal  love  which  neither 


BIRTH  AND  LINEAGE.  29 

time,  nor  sorrow,  nor  the  chill  waves  of  the  shadowy 
river,  can  change  or  dim.  They  were  married  on  the 
9th  of  March,  1835,  and  their  oldest  child,  the  subject 
of  this  biography,  was  born  the  December  following. 
He  was  named  Albert  Bennet  Whiting,  but  in  the 
family  was  usually  called  by  his  second  name  alone. 

Born  of  such  lineage,  and  of  parents  so  truly  wedded, 
is  it  wonderful  that  he  should  have  possessed  a  massive 
intellect,  a  refined  spiritual  nature,  a  warm  and  loving 
heart  ?  Does  blood  tell  ?  Not  in  that  narrow  sense  in 
which  the  blue  blood  of  royalty  has  been  quoted  to  sus- 
tain the  divine  right  of  kings,  but  in  the  broad  phil- 
osophical sense  which  seeks  for  each  result  a  cause. 
Can  a  stream  rise  higher  than  its  fountain  ?  and,  if  the 
source  be  muddy,  will  not  the  stream  be,  to  a  certain 
extent,  impure  also  ?  We  know  that  in  the  career  of 
nations,  races,  and  civilizations,  history  constantly  re- 
peats itself.  Does  it  not  also  repeat  itself  in  families, 
in  the  reproduction  of  certain  well-marked  traits,  char- 
acteristics, and  capacities,  even  to  the  remotest  genera- 
tions? Is  there  not,  therefore,  a  philosophical  reason 
for  the  existence  in  the  human  mind  of  a  certain  pride 
in  and  respect  for  honorable  ancestry,  entirely  apart 
from  and  independent  of  the  merely  adventitious  cir- 
cumstances of  rank  and  fortune  ?  We  have  been  taught 
that  pride  of  birth  is  a  sign  of  weakness  and  folly,  and  I 
grant  with  truth,  if  it  be  founded  upon  mere  outward 
distinctions ;  but  I  believe  there  is  in  every  soul  an  in- 
born feeling  of  respect  for  the  memory  of  one's  ances- 
tors. This  is  by  the  Chinese  exaggerated  into  worship, 
and  in  many  European  countries  is  little  less.  As 
Americans,  we  have  gone  to  the  opposite  extreme,  and 
attempted,  in  our  boasted  equality,  to  make  every  per- 


30  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

son  look  upon  his  own  ancestors  in  exactly  the  same 
light  as  another's ;  which  is  no  more  natural,  or  possible, 
than  for  us  to  look  upon  other  people's  brothers  and 
sisters  as  we  do  upon  our  own ;  nor  does  the  fact,  that 
we  do  not  and  can  not,  detract  aught  from  their  worth. 
While,  therefore,  we  concede  to  all  an  equal  weight  in 
the  broad  scale  of  humanity,  we  can  not  be  blind,  either 
to  those  real  differences  that  exist,  or  to  those  ideal  ones 
which  are  no  less  natural ;  and  we  may,  without  shame, 
confess  to  that  pride  of  birth,  which,  being  both  natural 
and  reasonable,  is  rather  to  be  commended  than  rebuked, 
and  which  I,  for  one,  will  never  disown. 


CHAPTER  II. 

CHILDHOOD.  —  NATURAL  SPIRITUAL  SIGHT. — BROTHER 
AND  SISTER.  —  FIRST  BEREAVEMENT.  —  THE  MYSTIC 
TIE. 

For  seven  years  Albert  Bennet  remained  an  only 
child,  his  brother  Willie  being  born  in  1842,  and  his  only 
sister  two  years  later.  It  was  fortunate  for  him  that  it 
was  so,  for  he  required  the  most  unremitting  care  and 
watchfulness  of  both  parents  to  keep  his  large  and 
active  brain  from  wearing  out  his  frail  body.  He  early 
exhibited  a  wonderful  memory,  and  startled  his  mother 
by  learning  to  point  out  certain  letters  on  the  heading 
of  a  newspaper  before  he  could  speak  their  names.  But, 
more  alarming  than  all,  he  saw  people  and  scenes  not 


CHILDHOOD.  31 

visible  to  other  eyes.  As  soon  as  he  could  speak  he 
talked  about  "the  people,"  as  he  called  them,  and  con- 
tinued to  see  these  spiritual  beings  all  through  his  child- 
hood. Sometimes,  at  night  especially,  his  room  would 
seem  full  of  them,  and  he  could  hear  them  converse 
with  each  other  about  him,  and  on  various  subjects.  Of 
course,  when  he  spoke  of  these  tilings  he  was  told  to 
hush,  that  there  was  "no  one  there"  that  it  was  vapors, 
or  something  the  matter  with  his  eyes  or  brain.  His 
mother,  more  patient  with  his  oddities  than  others, 
would  say,  "  Never  mind  the  people  ;  you  will  get  over 
such  sights  when  you  get  older.  I  used  to  see  just 
such  things  when  I  was  a  child."  This  was  small  con- 
solation, for  he  loved  his  ethereal  friends,  and  never 
feared  them,  and  firmly  refused  to  disbelieve  in  their 
identity,  having  the  same  consciousness  of,  and  faith  in, 
their  care  and  protection  as  he  felt  toward  that  of  his 
parents.  His"  extreme  delicacy  of  physical  constitution 
caused  his  parents  great  anxiety,  and  the  best  physicians 
gave  it  as  their  opinion  that  he  could  live  but  a  few 
years,  on  account  of  his  immense  head  and  slim  body. 
One  eccentric  old  doctor  said  that  he  "  would  like  to 
have  him  live,  to  see  what  he  would  make,"  but  that  it 
was  "  impossible  for  him  to  see  his  twelfth  year." 

When  the  child  would  overhear  such  remarks,  the 
persons  making  them  not  supposing  he  would  under- 
stand their  purport,  it  made  him  very  angry,  and  he 
would  say,  "I  will  live,  for  the  people  say  so."  One 
instance  I  will  relate  :  He  had  just  been  examined  by 
a  celebrated  physician,  who  proceeded  to  tell  his  par- 
ents, in  the  usual  dogmatic  way,  that  the  child  "  could 
not  possibly  live  to  grow  up,  and  was  liable  to  drop  off 
at  any  time,"  when  he  startled  the  wise  M.  D.  by  ex- 


32  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.  WHITING. 

claiming,  "  Dr. ,  I  will  live  to  visit  your  grave,  for 

the  man  in  the  gray  cloak  [a  spirit]  says  so,  and  he 
knows."  (This  physician  died  about  fifteen  years  later, 
and  the  prophecy  was  fulfilled.)  This  is  only  one  of 
many  similar  incidents  which  attended  his  early  child- 
hood. 

He  was  seldom  well  enough  to  be  sent  to  school,  but 
learned  at  home,  with  ease  and  rapidity,  everything  that 
was  placed  before  him ;  so  that,  although  no  effort  what- 
ever had  been  made  to  hasten  his  advancement,  but  rather 
the  contrary,  yet  when  he  did  enter  school  he  was  far 
in  advance  of  those  of  his  own  age.  This  fact,  together 
with  his  old  manners,  made  him  generally  disliked  by 
other  children,  and  so  increased  his  isolation  from  them. 
Upon  his  little  brother  he  lavished  the  most  unbounded 
affection,  and  when,  as  if  in  answer  to  his  oft-repeated 
wish,  a  sister,  too,  was  given  him,  he  was  perfectly  con- 
tent. Devoted  to  their  service,  he  would  spend  hours, 
amusing  "the  babies,"  watching  their  every  motion 
with  all  the  solicitude  of  a  fond  grandmother. 

This  absorbing  employment  was  of  great  benefit  in 
diverting  his  mind  from  books,  for  which  he  already 
manifested  an  undue  fondness,  and  fixing  it  more  upon 
things  suitable  to  his  childish  years.  But  soon  his  little 
brother  Willie  sickened  and  died ;  and  his  mind,  thus 
early  brought  face  to  face  with  the  great  mystery  of 
death,  struggled  —  as  many  an  older  mind  has  done — 
with  all  its  puny  strength,  to  comprehend  the  where- 
fore, the  great  unsolved  problem  of  the  ages.  Yet, 
though  his  loving  heart  was  almost  broken  by  the  loss 
of  his  cherished  playmate,  he  did  not  mourn  with  the 
noisy  demonstrativeness  usual  to  childhood,  but  with  a 
silent,  repressed  grief,  which  seemed  exceeding  pitiful 


CHILDHOOD.  33 

to  those  who  understood  him,  while  casual  observers 
said,  "He  is  not  old  enough  to  realize  his  loss."  He 
realized  more  than  would  have  seemed  possible  to  them. 
With  a  tact  and  thoughtfulness  far  beyond  his  years,  he 
strove  to  divert  and  console  his  stricken  parents,  and 
when  the  baby  sister  called  in  vain  for  her  vanished 
playfellow  he  was  her  surest  comforter. 

In  this  fellowship  of  sorrow  there  first  began  to  be 
developed  between  the  two  children  that  peculiar  and 
mysterious  bond  of  sympathy,  which,  though  probably 
inherent  in  their  mental  constitutions,  became  more  strik- 
ingly noticeable  in  later  years  —  a  sort  of  mystic  sixth 
sense,  by  which  the  one  was  enabled  to  understand  the 
thoughts  and  feelings  of  the  other  when  the  causes  of 
those  thoughts  and  feelings  were  beyond  cognizance  by 
any  ordinary  method,  and  by  which  any  strong  emotion 
or  desire  of  the  one  was  inevitably  transmitted  to  the 
other,  even  at  a  distance.  It  is  proper  to  observe,  that 
a  tie  in  some  respects  similar  also  existed  between  the 
children  and  their  mother,  as  regards  the  transmission 
of  any  extraordinary  mental  agitation.  I  do  not  pre- 
tend to  explain  or  furnish  a  reason  for  these  singular 
facts.  Such  instances  have  been  known  to  exist  in  the 
case  of  twins,  and  have  furnished  much  food  for  specu- 
lation, with,  I  believe,  little  definite  result.  We  can 
call  it  mental  telegraphy ;  we  can  say  that  the  similarity 
of  mental  structure,  which  subsists  between  minds  un- 
der certain  circumstances,  may  link  them  together  by 
an  ethereal  wire,  across  which  may  flash  messages  from 
soul  to  soul ;  yet  the  mysterious  laws  which  govern  the 
existence,  or  non-existence,  of  this  intercommunion 
are  a  sealed  book,  and  the  angel  who  shall  break  the 
seals  hath  not  yet  appeared. 
3 


34  BIOGRAPHT  OF  A.  B.   WHITING. 

Suffice  it  to  say,  that  the  mental  relationship  between 
this  brother  and  sister  was  doubtless  the  same  in  kind 
as  that  alluded  to  as  sometimes  existing  between  twins, 
and  traceable  to  the  same  unknown  law ;  for,  despite 
the  nine  years'  difference  in  age,  the  resemblance  in 
mental  organization  was  in  most  points  complete  and 
minute,  becoming,  however,  more  strikingly  apparent, 
even  to  themselves,  as  added  years  made  the  disparity 
of  age  less  noticeable.  This  correspondence  grew  to  be 
so  exact,  that,  when  both  had  arrived  at  years  of  matu- 
rity, each  could  count  with  the  utmost  certainty  upon  the 
opinions  and  feelings  of  the  other  upon  any  given  sub- 
ject, knowing  that,  the  same  data  being  furnished,  they 
invariably  reached  identical  conclusions.  It  should  not 
be  understood,  however,  that,  with  all  this  generally 
minute  resemblance,  there  were  no  points  of  difference 
to  determine  for  each  mind  a  separate  and  distinct  in- 
dividuality. These  differences,  though  few,  were  well 
defined,  and  seemed  so  arranged  that  the  aptitudes 
which  were  lacking  in  one  were  possessed  by  the  other 
in  unusual  degree ;  thus  making,  in  these  respects,  the 
one  mind  the  complement  of  the  other,  and  increasing 
their  mutual  dependence. 

That  between  two  thus  bound  by  the  very  law  of 
their  being  there  should  exist  the  most  unreserved  con- 
fidence, the  most  unquestioning  faith,  is  natural,  and  in 
the  nature  of  things  inevitable ;  for,  while  perfect  love 
casteth  out  all  fear,  perfect  knowledge  destroys  the 
possibility  of  doubt,  distrust,  or  misunderstanding. 

I  have  thought  best  to  give  this  explanation  here,  and 
in  this  general  way,  rather  than  more  particularly,  and 
in  the  order  of  time  in  which  we  came  to  understand 
these  things,  for  this  reason — that,  while  the  peculiar 


CHILDHOOD.  35 

relationship  described  as  existing  between  my  brother 
and  myself  necessarily  exerted  a  powerful  influence, 
permeating  the  lives  of  both,  yet  this  influence  was  so 
subtile  in  its  character  as  to  defy  any  attempt  to  meas- 
ure its  extent  or  define  its  limits.  Hence  only  gen- 
eralization is  possible. 

As  children,  we,  of  course,  did  not  know  that  there 
was  anything  exceptional  in  the  perfect  sympathy  which 
we  instinctively  realized,  but  supposed  the  same  to  exist 
equally  between  all  brothers  and  sisters.  In  this  view 
/regarded  with  most  sincere  pity  those  little  girls  who 
were  not  blessed  with  a  "big  brother,"  while  he  looked 
no  less  compassionately  upon  those  unfortunate  boys 
who  had  no  "little  sister."  When  observation  taught 
us  the  fallacy  of  this  belief,  we  concluded,  next,  that  it 
was  because  we  were  only  two  that  we  loved  each  other 
more ;  but  when,  to  our  astonishment  and  horror,  we 
learned  that  there  was  not  invariably  harmony  even  be- 
tween two,  —  that  this  was  not  the  bond  of  peace,  — we 
were  puzzled  indeed. 

We  were  told  that  "  good  little  children  should  always 
agree,"  and  in  the  light  of  that  teaching  were  forced  to 
conclude  that  "  good  little  children"  were  not  so  plenty 
as  they  might  be,  and,  I  dare  say,  regarded  that  fact  as 
highly  complimentary  to  ourselves.  Yet  we  could  not 
but  see  that  those  who  made  the  most  constant  effort  to 
be  kind  and  forbearing,  if  not  always  successful,  were 
more  worthy  of  praise  than  were  we,  to  whom  no  effort 
was  necessary.  Thus  the  unsolved  problem  still  haunt- 
ed us,  and  would  not  be  dismissed,  until  time  and  inves- 
tigation, throwing,  light  into  the  dark  recesses  of  mental 
science,  had  shown  us  that  our  unanimity,  and  the  inhar- 
mony  we  saw,  rested   alike  upon  inexorable  law,  and, 


36  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.  WHITING. 

consequently,  was  neither  creditable  nor  discreditable 
to  either.  We  could  only  rejoice  that  we  had  been 
so  blessed. 

As  years  rolled  on,  and  we  comprehended,  more  and 
more,  that  the  experiences  which  were  so  familiar  to  us 
were  in  some  respects  unique,  and  belonged  to  a  class 
of  unexplained  phenomena,  occurring  only  in  rare  and 
exceptional  instances,  we  devoted  much  mutual  thought 
to  the  endeavor  to  unvail,  if  possible,  the  hidden  work- 
ings of  the  mysterious  law  that  united  us ;  to  discover 
what  was  the  force  which  caused"  and  regulated  the 
transmission  of  thought  and  its  method  of  operation. 

Without  attempting  to  enter  into  a  critical  disquisi- 
tion on  the  subject,  I  will  briefly  state  the  principal 
facts  that  we  were  able  to  glean.  In  the  first  place  we 
discovered  that  it  was  not  so  often  the  isolated  thought 
or  emotion  that  was  conveyed,  as  that  the  mental  state 
of  the  one  was  reflected,  or  photographed,  upon  the 
mind  of  the  other,  from  which  the  causes  of  that  men- 
tal state  were  readily  inferred,  and  with  almost  invari- 
able accuracy.  We  next  sought  to  decide  whether  the 
power  of  transmitting  these  impressions  was  due  to,  or 
dependent  upon,  an  effort  of  the  will ;  and  found  that, 
while  the  exertion  of  the  will  might  deepen  the  effect, 
and  in  the  case  of  others  might  be  indispensable,  that, 
as  between  ourselves,  the  message  was  transmitted,  not 
only  without  any  volition  on  our  part,  but  sometimes  in 
spite  of  our  will  to  the  contrary  (as  when  one  would 
wish  to  withhold  from  the  other  the  knowledge  of 
trouble  or  sickness)  ;  and  that  the  vividness  of  the  im- 
pression sent  would  be  in  exact  proportion  to  the 
strength  of  the  cause  in  the  mind  of  the  involuntary 
sender.     But  we  also  discovered  that  two  causes  might 


CHILDHOOD.  37 

interfere  to  modify  the  vividness  of  the  impression  re- 
ceived: first,  any  unusual  pre-occupation  or  agitation 
on  the  part  of  the  receiver ;  and,  second,  the  interven- 
tion of  a  powerful  supra-mundane  will.  In  the  first 
case  the  impression  received  was  liable  to  be  confused 
and  indistinct,  and  in  the  second  case  it  might  be  dimin- 
ished in  strength  to  such  a  degree  as  to  be  almost  im- 
perceptible, but  never  totally  interrupted  or  destroyed. 
These  facts,  ascertained  by  repeated  experiment,  place 
these  peculiar  phenomena  so  evidently  within  the  do- 
minion of  law,  albeit  a  law  not  fully  understood,  that 
it  were  folly  to  question  their  existence,  or  ascribe  them 
to  coincidence  or  fancy.  On  the  contrary,  their  actual- 
ity has  been  so  abundantly  proven  to  my  mental  con- 
sciousness,— so  fully  realized, — that,  were  all  other 
proofs  of  immortality  swept  away,  I  could  fearlessly 
rest  my  hope  —  my  knowledge  —  of  continued  life  and 
love  beyond  the  grave  on  this :  that,  from  beyond  the 
shadowy  vail  that  divides  the  visible  from  the  invisible 
world,  the  twin-soul  still  responds  to  mine  as  clearly 
and  unmistakably  as  of  old.  Thus  the  mystic  bond, 
which  triumphed  over  distance  and  outward  circum- 
stances here,  is  still  our  solace,  and,  unchanged  by  death, 
reveals  at  once  its  own  eternal  nature  and  the  soul's  im- 
mortal life. 


38  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.   WHITING. 


CHAPTER   III. 

SCHOOL-DAYS.  —  TEMPORARY    WITHDRAWAL     OF     THE 
CLAIRVOYANT  GIFT.  —  CONSEQUENT  SKEPTICISM. 

Up  to  the  age  of  twelve,  Albert  Bennet  continued  to 
see  and  converse  with  the  ethereal  beings  spoken  of  in 
the  last  chapter,  though  he  learned  to  keep  his  own 
counsel,  and  ceased  to  try  to  convince  others  of  their 
reality.  Soon  after  reaching  his  twelfth  year  he  was 
prostrated  by  an  attack  of  lung  fever,  with  threatened 
congestion  ;  and  all  the  wise  ones  said,  "Lo!  the  time 
has  come  which  we  foretold."  The  struggle  was  long 
and  desperate,  but  life  and  destiny  conquered  at  last, 
and,  after  well  nigh  passing  the  limits  of  the  shadowy 
valley,  he  awoke  on  earth ;  but  the  strange  gifts  of  his 
childhood  had  departed.  Of  his  sensations  at  this  time 
and  subsequently  I  shall  quote  his  own  words  in  de- 
scribing them  to  a  friend.  He  said,  "An  indefinable 
loneliness  came  over  me,  and  in  time  I  grew  to  look 
upon  the  past  second-sight  as  a  delusion,  pleasant,  but 
gone  forever.  I  thought  I  saw  the  correctness  of  my 
friends'  assertion,  —  that  it  was  a  shadow  on  the  eye  or 
mind,  —  and  I  seemed  to  myself  to  have  grown  im- 
measurably older  by  its  removal.  For  six  years  to  a 
day,  I  saw  nothing  of  a  spiritual  character ;  for  that  six 
years  I  believed  death  to  be  an  eternal  sleep,  and 
thought  of  it  only  with  a  shudder."  Those  six  years 
brought  some  change   in  outward   circumstances   and 


SCHOOL-DATS.  39 

surroundings.  He  grew  rapidly  toward  manhood,  and 
a  portrait  in  oil  taken  at  the  age  of  fifteen  shows  a 
youth  slender  and  spiritual  in  appearance,  but  with  a 
maturity  of  expression  in  excess  of  his  years.  He  is 
taken  as  a  student,  book  in  hand,  and  looks  the  char- 
acter to  the  life.  He  was  at  that  time  attending  school 
at  East  Bridgewater  Academy,  an  institution  of  little 
classical  pretensions,  but  where  higher  English  branches 
and  modern  languages  were  taught  in  a  thorough  and 
systematic  manner.  During  the  two  years  that  he  re- 
mained there,  his  studies  were  frequently  interrupted 
by  ill  health,  and  his  eyes,  naturally  short-sighted,  be- 
came so  weak  from  the  strain  of  continuous  study  as  to 
compel  the  wearing  of  glasses,  thus  gaining  for  him  the 
playful  sobriquet  of  "The  Professor."  Yet,  under  all 
these  disadvantages  his  progress  was  rapid ;  he  enjoyed 
his  school-life  immensely,  and  was  always  foremost  in 
all  those  little  enterprises  which  abound  among  stu- 
dents, such  as  the  publication  of  a  paper,  amateur 
theatricals,  &c.  In  these  pursuits  he  developed  not 
only  considerable  literary  and  histrionic  talent,  but  a 
genius  for  depicting  the  ludicrous,  which  nobody  would 
have  suspected  from  his  staid  and  sober  demeanor.  He 
was  peculiarly  happy  in  burlesque,  when  the  mood  was 
on  him,  and  delighted  to  show  up  sham  pretensions  and 
inconsistencies,  whether  existing  in  the  small  world  of 
the  school  or  the  great  world  without.  Some  of  the 
articles  written  by  him  at  that  time  abound  in  hits  at 
the  popular  vices  and  follies  of  society,  and,  stripped 
of  certain  local  allusions,  would  read  well  now;  but 
they  are  chiefly  valuable  as  serving  to  show  how  in- 
stinctive was  his  study  of  human  nature,  and  how  clear 
his  insight  into  human  motives.     Bigotry  and  intoler- 


40  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.   B.    WHITING. 

ance  he  caricatured  remorselessly ;  for  he  was  ever  the 
champion  of  free  thought,  and  hated  tyranny  as  ear- 
nestly as  he  despised  hypocrisy.  Among  his  favorite 
subjects  in  serious  writing  were  Reform,  Free  Speech, 
and  kindred  topics. 

His  religious  views  at  this  time  were  decidedly  heter- 
odox. He  rejected  utterly  the  Christian  dogma  of 
an  angry  God,  —  who  would  punish  the  wicked  forever 
and  ever,  —  and  regarded  immortality  as  not  proven. 
It  seemed  to  him  much  more  reasonable  to  suppose  that 
death  was  the  end  —  as  birth  the  beginning  —  of  life,  a 
dreamless  sleep,  than  to  accuse  a  just  God  of  creating 
beings,  endowed  with  immortal  life,  only  to  doom  them 
to  eternal  torment.  How  strong  his  feelings  were  upon 
this  subject,  and  how  prophetic  of  the  spiritual  awaken- 
ing which  was  coming,  will  be  best  shown  by  the  fol- 
lowing extract  from  his  journal,  under  date  East 
Bridgewater,  June  11,  1851 :  — 

"  Most  of  the  people  here  are  a  hundred  years  behind 
the  times.  Why,  some  of  the  older  people  call  me  a  blas- 
phemer, because  I  dare  to  speak  the  truth.  They  uphold 
the  doctrine  of  everlasting  punishment  and  eternal  dam- 
nation !     O,  vile  misrepresentation  of  Almighty  God ! 

"  Why,  if  their  description  is  true,  God  is  an  unjust  and 
cruel  being,  a  villain  of  the  deepest  dye.  God  is  love, 
all  love  !  and  the  miscreant  who  would  stand  up  in  the 
pulpit,  and  with  solemn  look  misrepresent  his  Creator, 
deserves  to  have  his  lips  sealed  forever.  He  is  a  de- 
ceiver of  mankind  and  a  traitor  to  his  God. 

"  They  talk  about  the  Bible  being  the  Word  of  God. 
What  nonsense  !  I  believe  it  to  be  a  history  —  nothing 
more.  The  time  will  come  when  people  will  wonder  that 
ever  a  race  of  beings  existed  who  worshiped  a  book. 


SCHOOL-DA  rs.  41 

I  hope  whoever  reads  this  journal  in  after  years,  when 
I  am  gone  to  the  spirit  land,  will  say  with  truth,  4  He 
had  a  faint  idea  of  the  right.'  " 

Twenty-one  years  have  elapsed  since  those  lines  were 
penned,  and,  in  the  light  those  years  have  brought,  I 
doubt  not  many  will  fulfill  his  modest  wish,  seeing  in 
this  passage,  though  crude  and  harsh  in  expression,  a 
foreshowing  not  only  of  the  present,  but  of  the  future 
yet  to  be. 

Soon  after  the  date  above  given,  he  was  obliged  to 
leave  school  permanently,  on  account  of  continued  ill 
health.  He  regretted  this  much;  for,  aside  from  his 
love  of  study,  he  highly  prized  the  friendships  and  pleas- 
ant associations  there  formed,  and  kept  them  in  tender 
recollection  all  his  life.  About  this  time  — 1851-2  —  his 
attention  was  first  directed  to  the  subject  of  spiritual 
manifestations,  so  called.  A  year  or  two  previous  he 
had  attended  a  course  of  lectures  given  by  the  celebrated 
Dr.  Dodds,  on  Mesmerism  and  Psychology.  He  was 
very  desirous  of  being  mesmerized,  under  the  idea  that 
it  might  benefit  his  health,  but  could  not  be  affected  in 
the  least  by  this  most  powerful  and  learned  of  psycholo- 
gists (nor  by  any  other  whom  he  ever  met)  ;  but, 
strange  to  say,  found  himself  to  be  a  powerful  operator. 
He  took  private  instructions  from  Dr.  Dodds,  and 
studied  the  subject  a  great  deal ;  and  when,  soon  after, 
the  phenomena  of  Spiritualism  was  brought  to  his  notice, 
he  did  not  call  it  a  humbug,  but  a  new  and  different 
form  of  biologic  development.  "But,"  said  he,  "it 
can't  be  spirits,  for  there  are  no  spirits.  They  are  va- 
pors of  the  mind."  His  grandmother  Whiting,  for 
whose  superior  intellect  he  had  the  utmost  reverence, 
was  among  the  first  to  investigate  the  "rappings,"  and 


42  BIOGRAPHT  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

become  convinced  of  their  spiritual  origin.  His  own 
mother  was  thereby  induced  to  inquire,  and  with  the 
same  result ;  but  he  was  still  positive  in  his  skepticism, 
saying  to  them,  "  I  used  to  see  ghosts  when  I  was  little, 
and  you  told  me  it  was  a  delusion ;  now  you  are  crazier 
than  I  ever  was.  Nothing  short  of  seeing  the  spirits 
will  convince  me  that  there  are  any."  That  this  abso- 
lute proof  was  not  long  delayed  will  be  seen  in  due 
time  as  our  narrative  progresses. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

EEMOVAL  TO  THE  WEST. — RETURN  OP  THE  OPENED 
VISION. — INTRODUCTION  TO  SPIRITUALISM. WON- 
DERFUL MEDIUMISTIC  EXPERIENCES.  —  DEBUT  AS  A 
PUBLIC  LECTURER  AT  THE  AGE  OP  EIGHTEEN. 

In  the  fall  of  1852,  the  subject  of  removal  to  the 
west  was  first  seriously  considered  in  the  family,  in  the 
hope  that  change  of  climate  would  be  beneficial  to  the 
health,  not  only  of  the  son,  but  the  mother,  who  was 
again  suffering  from  the  consumptive  tendencies  of  her 
early  days.  Our  father,  accordingly,  took  an  extended 
tour  of  observation  through  the  west,  and  was  so  well 
pleased  with  the  country  —  and  with  Michigan  in  par- 
ticular—  that,  in  the  ensuing  spring,  he  removed  his 
family  thither,  choosing  for  their  home  a  small  farm 
adjoining  the  village  of  Brooklyn,  Jackson  County. 

That  a  youth  of  seventeen  should  enjoy  a  journey  of 
this  kind,  and  enter  with  keen  relish  into  all  the  little 


REMOVAL    TO   THE   WEST.  43 

amusing  and  interesting  incidents  of  travel,  is  natural. 
The  spirit  of  adventure  found  plenty  of  excitement,  nor 
was  the  piquant  seasoning  of  danger  lacking,  for  cross- 
ing Lake  Erie  in  the  month  of  April,  with  the  ice  just 
breaking  up,  and  a  furious  storm  raging,  was  no  joke  at 
the  time,  though  the  occasion  of  many  humorous  anec- 
dotes and  reminiscences  afterward. 

The  village  of  Brooklyn  was,  in  1853,  quite  insig- 
nificant in  size,  although  it  had  been  settled  some 
twenty  years,  and  hence  the  surrounding  country  was 
well  improved,  and  by  no  means  a  wilderness.  It  lies 
about  fifteen  miles  south  from  Jackson,  which  was  its 
nearest  railway  station  until  1855,  when  the  building 
of  a  branch  from  Adrian  to  Jackson  created  a  station  at 
Napoleon,  only  four  miles  distant.  The  farm  before 
mentioned  lay  to  the  west  of  the  village,  the  house 
being  not  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  main 
street,  while  the  fields  belonging  stretched  back  about 
the  same  distance  to  the  beautiful  River  Raisin,  which 
formed  its  western,  and,  by  a  bend,  a  part  also  of  its 
southern  boundary.  The  house  faced  the  east,  and  was 
a  neat  frame  building,  containing  in  the  main  part  two 
large  rooms  on  the  ground  floor,  with  the  same  above, 
to  which  was  added  a  wing  on  the  north,  comprising 
bedroom,  kitchen,  pantry,  &c.  The  front,  or  east, 
chamber  was  the  room  occupied  by  my  brother,  the 
stairway  lying  between  that  and  the  western  (my  own) 
room.  I  am  thus  particular  in  description  to  render 
clearer  the  events  soon  to  be  narrated. 

The  summer  of  1853  was  marked  by  no  important 
event.  The  time  passed  swiftly  in  out-door  employ- 
ments and  sports,  which  seemed  to  produce  something 
of  the  beneficial  effect  hoped  for,  and  as  the  people 


44  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.  WHITING. 

were  very  kind  and  friendly,  the  feeling  of  strangeness 
soon  wore  away.  In  the  early  fall,  a  lady,  who  had 
called  several  times,  broached  the  subject  of  spiritual 
circles,  said  there  was  one  in  the  place  of  which  she  was 
a  member,  and  invited  our  father  and  mother  to  attend. 
The  latter  excused  herself  on  the  ground  of  ill  health. 
The  lady  thereupon  stated  that  at  a  recent  meeting  of 
their  circle,  a  lady  medium  present,  while  under  con- 
trol, had  told  them  that  there  was  a  medium  in  our 
family.  She  was  informed  that  it  was  a  mistake,  but 
still  urged  attendance  upon  the  circle,  "just  to  see 
what  would  come  of  it,"  and  finally  asked  if,  as  mother 
was  unable  to  go  out,  it  would  be  agreeable  to  have  the 
circle  held  there  at  some  time.  To  this  mother  con- 
sented readily,  as  the  members,  few  in  number,  were 
most  of  them  known  to  her  as  persons  of  unexception- 
able character  and  standing  in  society.  The  appointed 
evening  came,  and  with  it  the  party,  as  arranged.  The 
medium  above  spoken  of — an  elderly  lady,  and  a  fine 
healing  and  test  medium,  as  was  afterward  proved  — 
was  among  the  first  to  arrive.  She  was  a  total  stranger 
to  all  the  family,  but  no  sooner  had  she  entered  the 
house  than  she  walked  directly  up  to  my  brother,  and 
laying  her  hand  upon  his  shoulder,  said,  "  This  is  the 
one  of  whom  I  spoke."  She  then  went  on  in  the  most 
explicit  language  to  predict  his  future  career,  which 
prediction,  both  as  regards  the  phases  of  his  medium- 
ship  and  his  public  life,  has  been  literally  verified; 
although,  I  think,  not  one  of  the  persons  present"  really 
believed  it  at  the  time,  including  the  medium  herself. 
He,  certainly,  was  anything  but  credulous,  and  never 
spoke  of  the  matter  afterward,  except  to  laugh  at  it, 
and  think  the  "  prophetess  "  a  queer  person.     Nothing 


RETURN  OF  SPIRIT-SIGHT.  45 

occurred  to  change  his  skepticism  until  the  following 
January,  when,  suddenly  and  without  warning,  the 
spirit-sight,  the  lost  gift  of  his  childhood,  returned  to 
him.  Of  the  manner  and  circumstances  of  this  return  I 
shall  give  his  own  account,  as  preserved  in  his  journal. 

"  On  the  night  of  the  21st  of  January,  1854,  I  was 
suddenly  awakened  by  four  persons,  bearing  the  ap- 
pearance of  Indians,  who  stood  before  me  as  distinctly 
as  any  persons  I  ever  saw  in  my  life.  My  room  was  bril- 
liantly illuminated,  although  the  night  was  very  dark ;  I 
rubbed  my  eyes  and  half  arose,  to  be  sure  I  was  awake  ; 
but  there  they  stood,  until  I  had  time  to  look  at  each 
one  in  detail,  and  compare  and  note  the  points  of  differ- 
ence in  their  appearance  and  accouterments.  At  length 
one  of  them  —  a  chief  of  gigantic  stature  —  approached 
my  bedside,  and  addressed  me  as  follows :  — 

"'Child  of  earth,  take  back  the  inheritance  of  your 
ancestors,  the  gifts  of  your  childhood  !  We  are  spirits ; 
we  will  give  you  health,  and  a  knowledge  of  spiritual 
life  and  intercourse.  Other  spirits  will  make  you  an 
instrument  in  their  hands  to  proclaim  this  knowledge  to 
the  world.     Tell  what  you  have  seen.' 

"  The  speaker  then  returned  to  his  place  with  the 
other  three,  and  they  all  departed  together,  taking  with 
them  the  light  they  had  brought. 

"  The  solitude  and  darkness  of  a  winter's  night  was 
again  around  me,  and,  as  if  to  render  the  scene  more 
impressive,  an  old  wooden  clock  —  which  is  older  than 
I  am  —  struck  twelve  three  times,  at  intervals  of  a 
few  minutes.  I  disobeyed  their  injunction,  and  told 
no  one  what  I  had  seen.  They  came  again  the  next 
night,  and  the  next,  and  for  ten  consecutive  nights,  the 
same  four  always,  and  the  same  one  of  the  four  acting 


46  BIO  GRAPH 2   OF  A.  B.  WHITING. 

as  spokesman.  Still  I  told  no  one.  It  had  become  a 
source  of  annoyance  to  me,  for  I  feared  I  was  really 
becoming  insane.  Finally,  the  tenth  night,  I  said  to 
them,  somewhat  pettishly,  — 

"  4  If  you  are  spirits,  why  can't  you  bring  some  one 
whom  I  will  know,  instead  of  Indians  altogether  ? ' 

44  4  It  shall  be  as  you  desire,'  was  the  reply. 

44  The  next  night,  when  they  came,  to  my  surprise 
and  gratification,  my  little  brother,  who  had  been  dead, 
as  I  thought,  for  several  years,  appeared  plainly  before 
me,  and  spoke  to  me,  saying,  — 

44  '  It  is  indeed  true  that  spirits  exist  and  communicate. 
It  is  my  pleasure  to  return,  giving  my  testimony  to 
sustain  what  has  been  told  you.  I  live,  and  am  happy ; 
your  brother  still  in  love,  truth,  and  reality.' 

44  He  also  charged  me,  as  had  the  others,  to  tell  what 
I  had  seen  ;  but,  when  morning  came,  I  could  not  make 
up  my  mind  to  do  so.  The  next  night  my  visitors  did 
not  appear,  nor  the  next,  and  so  on  for  several  nights, 
until  I  had  begun  to  think  perhaps  it  was  a  delusion 
after  all,  and  rejoice  that  I  had  not  exposed  myself  to 
ridicule  by  telling  of  it.  About  two  weeks  after 
these  appearances  ceased,  one  night  about  sunset,  as  I 
was  walking  out  with  my  father,  I  saw  what  I  supposed 
to  be  a  genuine  Indian,  of  flesh  and  blood,  standing  by 
the  fence  at  the  roadside.  The  idea  that  it  was  a  spirit, 
or  one  of  the  same  apparitions  I  had  seen  in  my  room, 
did  not  occur  to  me,  as  they  had  only  appeared  in  the 
night-time,  and  had  so  long  ceased  altogether.  So  I 
innocently  remarked  to  father,  — 

44  4  See  that  Indian  !  What  can  he  be  doing  there  ? ' 

44  He  looked.  4  Why,'  said  he,  4  what  do  you  mean  ? 
There  is  nobody  there.' 


THE   REALITY  OF  SPIRITS.  47 

"  4  There  is  ! '  I  replied,  positively. 

"So  we  both  walked  toward  the  place  where  he 
stood ;  but,  as  we  approached,  my  Indian  rose  into  the 
j  air  and  vanished,,  laughing  as  he  went.  They  had 
adopted  this  ruse  to  bring  me  out,  and  make  me  tell 
what  I  had  seen,  for,  of  course,  I  had  to  explain  to 
father,  and  tell  him  what  I  had  witnessed  before. 

44  4  Well,'  said  he,  4  it  is  very  strange  !  Come  back 
into  the  house,  and  request  them  to  come  again  when 
we  are  all  present.' 

44  As  soon  as  we  had  seated  ourselves,  a  spirit  ap- 
peared whom  I  did  not  know.  I  saw  him,  though  none 
of  the  rest  did,  which  was  a  great  mystery  to  me.  I 
described  him,  and  as  soon  as  I  had  done  so,  my  father 
said,  -— 

44  4  That  is  your  grandfather  Whiting  —  my  father.' 

44  Now,  I  had  never  seen  my  grandfather  on  earth, 
nor  was  there  a  portrait  of  him  extant.  I  also  saw  at 
that  time  several  others  that  I  knew,  and  ever  since 
have  seen  them  more  or  less  every  day.  I  can  say  that 
I  know  spirits  exist;  and  in  their  existence  and  com- 
munion I  behold  the  glorious  fact,  the  soul-stirring 
realization,  that  I,  too,  am  to  live  eternally.  They  tell 
me  that  this  opened  vision  will  never  wholly  leave  me 
again,  and  that  the  changes  through  which  I  was  pass- 
ing—  mentally  and  physically  —  made  it  necessary  that 
it  should  be  withdrawn  during  those  six  years." 

After  that,  the  Indians  came  to  him  every  night,  and 
would  throw  him  into  a  kind  of  semi-conscious  trance,  and 
make  him  exercise  for  the  benefit  of  his  health,  putting 
him  through  many  singular  forms  of  exercise.  When  it 
became  warm  weather,  in  the  ensuing  May  and  June, 
they  would  sometimes  make  him  get  up  and  go  out  of 


48  BIOGRAPHT  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

doors  in  the  middle  of  the  night.  I  will  quote  from  the 
journal  one  incident  of  many. 

"  Last  night  they  put  me  in  an  unconscious  trance,  and 
took  me  to  the  river.  The  first  I  knew,  I  found  myself 
in  father's  large  row-boat,  out  in  the  middle  of  the  stream. 
I  was  astonished,  thought  it  must  be  a  dream,  until  one 
of  my  Indian  friends  appeared,  and  said, — 

"  '  I  brought  you  here ;  reach  out  and  pluck  a  lily ; 
put  it  in  your  pocket.'  I  did  as  directed.  'Now,' 
said  he,  4  row  the  boat  ashore.' 

"  4 1  can't,'  said  I,  4 1  never  rowed  a  bit  in  my  life.' 

"  4  I'll  help  you,'  said  he. 

"So  I  made  the  attempt ;  succeeded  very  well. 
When  I  had  got  the  boat  ashore  I  again  lost  conscious- 
ness, and  when  I  awoke  it  was  morning,  and  I  was  in 
bed  as  usual.  \  Well,'  thought  I,  rubbing  my  eyes,  '  I 
have  had  a  queer  dream.'  Then  I  remembered  the  lily, 
and  going  to  my  pocket  drew  it  out  still  wet." 

His  health  gradually  improved,  and  finding  that  these 
Indian  spirits  were  doing  for  him  what  no  earthly  power 
could  do,  he  gave  himself  up  to  their  treatment.  After 
a  time  other  spirits  controlled  him,  some  to  speak,  some 
to  write,  others  to  sing ;  giving  a  great  variety  of  tests. 

When  he  wrote  it  was  wholly  mechanical,  with  one 
hand  as  well  as  the  other,  and  sometimes  both  at  once. 
Frequently,  too,  the  writing  would  be  upside  down  to 
him,  or  reversed,  so  that  it  was  necessary  to  hold  it  be- 
fore a  glass  to  read  it.  He  preserved  in  one  small 
blank  book  upward  of  twenty  different  handwritings, 
and  seven  different  languages,  and  carried  it  with  him 
after  he  began  to  travel,  until  all  the  languages  had 
been  tested  by  persons  capable  of  deciding  as  to  their 
genuineness.     He  understood,  at  that  time,  only  three 


NUMEROUS    VISITORS.  49 

languages,  and  one  of  those  imperfectly.  (This  writ- 
ing gift  wholly  left  him  soon  after  he  began  to  lecture.) 
He  was  sometimes  quite  violently  controlled,  lifted 
in  the  air  and  moved  from  one  part  of  the  house 
to  another,  but  never  injured  in  the  least.  At  one 
t^me,  I  remember,  he  was  taken  up  from  a  reclining 
position  on  a  lounge,  carried  across  two  rooms,  and 
deposited  upon  another  lounge,  without  once  touching 
the  floor,  a  distance  of  at  least  thirty-five  feet.  This 
was  in  broad  daylight,  in  presence  of  our  mother  and 
myself.  It  was  done  very  quickly,  —  quicker,  I  think, 
than  he  could  have  run  the  distance.  It  was  also 
entirely  unsought  and  unexpected,  as  were  all  the 
manifestations  of  a  similar  character  that  ever  took 
place  with  him.  Indeed,  they  seldom  happened  at  all, 
unless  to  assist  him  in  difficulty,  or  remove  him  from 
danger ;  but  power  was  never  lacking  in  such  time  of 
need. 

Of  course  the  report  of  his  remarkable  gifts  drew 
crowds  of  visitors,  some  of  whom  were  actuated  by  cu- 
riosity, and  some  driven  by  the  natural  longing  of  be- 
reft hearts  for  tidings  from  the  other  side.  To  many 
of  both  classes  the  most  satisfactory  tests  were  given, 
so  that  it  often  happened  that  those  who  came  to  laugh 
remained  to  pray  for  more  light  from  the  beautiful  be- 
yond. To  multiply  instances  would  be  tedious  and 
unprofitable.  Thousands  of  similar  ones  are  taking 
place  all  over  the  country  to-day,  though  then  compara- 
tively rare.  The  test  was  generally  threefold.  Where 
the  person  inquiring  was  a  total  stranger,  and  not  intro- 
duced by  name,  the  spirit,  or  spirits,  who  appeared  with 
him,  would  call  him  by  name,  state  their  own  names  and 
relationship,  and  give  some  reminiscence  of  their  life 
4 


50  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.   B.    WHITING. 

or  death  to  confirm  their  identity.  To  this  was  some- 
times added  a  few  words  of  advice  concerning  private 
business,  or  an  allusion  to  circumstances  known  only 
to  the  person  addressed,  or  to  facts  not  known  to  him  or 
her  at  the  time,  but  afterward  ascertained.  He  con- 
tinued to  give  such  tests  up  to  the  time  of  his  adven£ 
as  a  public  lecturer ;  but  after  that,  though  he  saw  just 
the  same,  he  rarely  got  any  communication  direct,  ex- 
cept from  his  own  circle  and  personal  friends. 

About  six  months  after  he  first  saw  the  Indians,  he 
was  first  controlled  by  the  Italian  spirit,  Farini,  who 
caused  him  to  speak  and  sing  in  Italian  as  well  as  Eng- 
lish. His  development  and  physical  training  went  on 
for.  a  year  longer,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  his 
health  was  firmly  established.  He  had  spoken  some  to 
public  audiences  in  places  near  home,  where  an  interest 
had  sprung  up  ;  but  now  came  his  definite  entrance  upon 
public  labors. 

Extract  from  Journal,  July,  1855. 

"  The  other  night  Farini  appeared  to  me,  saying, 
4  On  the  15th  day  of  August  approaching,  you  must 
begin  your  work.'  I  pondered  upon  it.  What  can  it 
mean  ?  thought  I.     Last  night  he  came  again. 

"  *  Prepare  to  fulfill  your  destiny  ! '  were  his  words. 

"  *  Let  me  know  my  destiny,'  said  I  in  return. 

"  Then  he  lifted  the  vail  that  obscured  the  future, 
revealing  to  me  my  future  as  a  public  lecturer,  the  day 
I  should  start,  the  mode  of  traveling,  the  direction 
necessary  for  me  to  take,  and  many  other  particulars. 
Feeling  that  the  power  which  had  restored  me  to  health 
was  at  least  entitled  to  respect,  I  signified  my  willing- 


EXTRACTS  FROM  JOURNAL.  51 

ness  to  obey  his  directions.     He  then  addressed  himself 
to  me  in  these  words  :  — 

"  4  Go,  child  of  earth  !  Fame,  honor,  and  glory  await 
you  in  this  world,  and  in  that  heavenly  clime  where 
I  live  to  be  your  guiding  star.  Be  faithful  to  your 
trust !  Be  true  to  yourself !  We  will  be  true  to  you. 
Many,  calling  themselves  friends,  will  try  to  turn  you 
from  your  course  !  Heed  them  not,  but  pass  on  in  your 
allotted  pathway  !  Enemies  will  oppose  you  ;  the  op- 
posing world  will  frown  ;  fear  them  not,  for  truth  is 
more  powerful  than  error,  and  must  prevail.  Although 
foes  may  be  as  thorns  in  your  path,  we  will  cover  them 
with  the  fair  roses  of  spiritual  love,  and  the  love  of 
earth  shall  respond,  more  than  counterbalancing  the 
hate  and  scorn  it  opposes.'  " 

Extract  from  Journal,  October  1,  1855. 

"  On  the  loth  day  of  August,  I  left  home  with  the 
firm  determination  of  fulfilling  the  wishes  of  my  spirit 
guide.     He  told  me  on  starting,  — 

"  6  The  compact  shall  be  for  two  years,  during  which 
time  you  shall  lecture  as  I  direct.  At  the  expiration  of 
that  time,  you  shall  be  at  liberty  to  decide  whether  you 
will  remain  longer  under  my  guidance  and  instruction.' 

"  To  this  I  assented,  and  started  with  my  horse  and 
buggy,  as  directed.  Stopped  the  first  night  at  the 
house  of  a  friend,  and  the  following  day  went  on  to 
Albion,  —  a  town  on  the  M.  C.  R.  R.,  —  twenty  miles 
west  of  Jackson.  Arrived  there  about  dark  ;  called  at 
the  house  of  Mr.  John  Phipps,  —  a  fine,  whole-souled 
man,  an  Englishman  by  birth,  and  a  strong  spiritualist. 
He  received  me  cordially,  and  introduced  me  to  several 
others.     .... 


52  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.   B.    WHITING. 

"They  desired  me  to  lecture  the  following  Sunday. 
I  did  so,  and  the  interest  was  all  I  could  desire.  The 
poetic  element  in  my  lectures,  the  faculty  of  composing 
poetry  impromptu,  was  new  and  interesting.  At  night 
Farini  came  to  me,  and  said,  (  This  is  only  the  begin- 
ning. Before  the  two  years  shall  have  rolled  away, 
you  shall  lecture  in  most  of  the  principal  cities  of  the 
country,  and  not  only  improvise  poetry,  as  noAV,  but 
upon  any  subject  given  at  the  time  by  the  audience.' 
This  seems  a  rather  large  promise,  but  all  that  he  has 
hitherto  foretold  has  been  verified  ;  so  I  can  not  well 
doubt  this." 

He  continued  westward,  speaking  at  Marengo  and 
Marshall,  two  evenings  each,  Ceresco  one  evening, 
Battle  Creek  two  evenings,  thence  northward  to  Belle- 
vue,  where  he  also  spoke  twice.  While  there  he  made 
the  acquaintance  of  Mrs.  Sprague,  —  afterward  Mrs. 
Tuttle,  —  a  trance  speaker,  well  known  and  well  be- 
loved, who,  unable  to  endure  the  vicissitudes  of  pub- 
lic life,  has  long  since  passed  on  to  her  reward.  He 
spoke  again  at  Marshall,  on  his  return,  the  audience 
consisting,  as  before,  entirely  of  skeptics,  and  also 
another  Sunday  at  Albion,  returning  home  after  an 
absence  of  four  weeks.  On  this,  the  first  trip  of  our 
spiritual  Quixote,  he  made  no  charge  for  his  services ; 
nor  did  he  for  some  time  subsequently,  but  accepted 
whatever  remuneration  the  people  were  disposed  to 
give.  Later,  perceiving  that  this  course  of  procedure 
worked  injustice,  not  only  to  himself  and  other  workers, 
but  to  the  public,  inasmuch  as  places  and  persons  the 
least  able  often  gave  the  most  liberally,  he  adopted  a 
different  and  more  impartial  method. 


EXTRACTS  FROM  JOURNAL.  53 

Of  his  second  trip  I  shall  quote  the  account  from 
the  journal. 

Extract, 

"  I  heard  that  there  was  to  be  a  convention  of  Pro- 
gressive Friends  —  a  so-called  Free  Meeting  for  the 
discussion  of  all  reforms  —  at  a  place  called  Livonia, 
fifty  miles  from  my  home.  I  was  impressed  to  go ; 
could  not  see  the  object  then,  but  can  now.  I  went ; 
found  a  motley  collection  of  people,  black  and  white  ; 
some  cursing  the  churches,  some  raving  against  the 
Union,  some  making  long  speeches  against  war,  but  no 
room  for  anything  spiritual ;  so  I  left  for  Detroit.  As  I 
was  on  my  road  thither,  Farini  addressed  me,  saying,  — 

" 4 1  brought  you  here  to  teach  you  not  to  look  to  any 
class  of  reformers,  so  called,  many  of  whom  are  fanatics 
in  reality,  to  sustain  you.  Spiritualism  must  stand  by 
itself,  unhampered  by  any  of  the  '  one-idea-isms  '  of  the 
day.  It  is  for  the  poor  and  lowly,  also  for  the  rich  and 
great ;  for  the  southern  slaveholder  as  well  as  for  the 
northern  abolitionist.  Keep  yourself  aloof  from  all  side 
issues.' 

81 1  remained  two  days  in  Detroit,  attending  the  state 
fair,  and  finding  a  friend  in  a  namesake  of  mine,  Dr. 
L.  C.  Whiting,  and  then  returned  home,  having  learned 
a  valuable  lesson." 

He  made  one  more  trip  with  horse  and  buggy,  visit- 
ing again  the  places  mentioned  above,  viz.,  Albion, 
Marshall,  Battle  Creek,  &c.  While  at  the  latter  place 
he  went  out  to  Harmonia,  six  miles  distant,  where 
there  was  a  school,  founded  upon  liberal  principles, 


54  BIOGRAPHT  OF  A.    B.    WHITING. 

which  seemed  to  give  good  hope  of  future  usefulness, 
but  for  some  reason  was  soon  after  abandoned. 

It  was  now  into  November,  and  leaving  his  horse  and 
carriage,  he  took  his  fourth  trip  on  the  cars,  going  first 
to  Adrian,  thence  to  Munroe,  then  westward  to  Jones- 
ville,  Coldwater,  Sturgis,  Constantine,  South  Bend, 
and  Laporte  ;  at  each  of  which  places  he  lectured  from 
two  to  six  times,  making  many  friends,  whose  names 
are  recorded  in  his  journal  with  the  kindest  expressions 
of  regard.  Among  these  was  Hon.  S.  C.  Coffinbury,  of 
Constantine,  who,  twelve  years  later,  again  stood  by 
his  side  in  defense  of  another  principle,  the  sacred  right 
of  free  speech.  He  next  lectured  in  Waukegan,  111., 
and  Racine  and  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  meeting  at  the  latter 
place  Mr.  S.  J.  Finney,  then  a  lecturer  upon  the  Har- 
monial  Philosophy.  Returning  again  to  Waukegan,  he 
was  accompanied  thence  to  Chicago  by  a  party  of 
friends,  among  whom  was  that  remarkable  medium, 
Mrs.  Seymour,  since  gone  home  to  the  spirit  world. 
The  phase  of  her  mediumship  that  attracted  most  atten- 
tion was  the  appearance  of  writing  upon  the  arm,  often 
the  name  of  some  spirit  entirely  unknown  to  her. 
This  test  was  given  by  her  in  public  during  his  lectures 
in  Chicago,  the  letters  remaining  plain  and  distinct 
until  nearly  all  the  large  audience  had  time  to  pass  by 
and  examine  them.  After  delivering  six  lectures  he 
retraced  his  route,  and  next  went  northward  to  Ionia 
and  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.  By  this  time  the  winter 
was  far  spent,  and  he  returned  home  to  rest  and  re- 
cuperate. 


THE  BALLOT-TEST  MEDIUM.  55 


CHAPTER  V. 

FIRST  EASTERN  TOUR  AND  TRIPS  THROUGH  THE 
WEST.  —  INCIDENTS.  —  MEDIA  MET  WITH.  —  CLOSE 
OF  FIRST  YEAR  OF  PUBLIC  LIFE.  —  THE  COMPACT. 

On  the  11th  of  March,  1856,  he  started  upon  his 
first  eastern  tour ;  lectured  at  Adrian,  and  went  from 
there  to  Cleveland ;  called  at  the  office  of  the  "  Uni- 
verse,"—  a  spiritual  paper  then  published,  —  and,  by 
invitation  of  the  editor,  lectured  on  the  following  Sun- 
day afternoon,  Mr.  Pardee  speaking  in  the  evening. 
He  there  met,  for  the  first  time,  Mr.  J.  B.  Conklin,  of 
New  York,  —  the  great  ballot-test  medium,  —  of  whom 
he  says, — 

"  His  manner  of  giving  tests  is  as  follows :  The 
investigator  writes  upon  slips  of  paper  the  names  of 
several  of  his  spirit  friends,  folds  them  up  separately, 
without  showing  them  to  Mr.  C,  then  lifts  them  up  one 
at  a  time,  asking,  4  Is  this  one  here  ?  '  When  the  right 
one  is  taken,  the  table  tips,  or  Mr.  C.'s  hand  writes  the 
answer.  Other  questions  are  answered  in  the  same 
way."  From  Cleveland  to  Painesville  and  to  Buffalo, 
where  he  spoke  two  Sundays,  occupying  the  desk  of 
Mr.  Forster,  who  was  absent.  Buffalo  was,  at  that  date, 
a  great  center  of  spiritual  light.  The  "  Age  of  Prog- 
ress "  was  published  there.  Thomas  Gales  Forster  occu- 
pied the  rostrum,  Miss  Cora  Scott  —  then  a  slender  girl 
of  fifteen  —  already   gave  promise   of  eloquence   and 


56  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.  WHITING. 

future  usefulness,  while  the  array  of  physical  media 
was  such  as  we  rarely  find  in  the  limits  of  a  single  city. 
Among  this  number  were  the  since  famous  Davenport 
Brothers,  whose  wonderful  mediumship  has  created  so 
much  excitement  and  controversy,  both  in  this  country 
and  Europe.  It  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  give  his 
brief  account  of  what  he  witnessed  at  their  seances; 
showing,  as  it  does,  that  though  they  were  mere  boys, 
and  hence  could  not  possibly  have  had  "years  of  prac- 
tice to  enable  them  to  perform  their  feats,"  as  is  some- 
times alleged,  yet  the  demonstrations  in  their  presence 
were  no  less  satisfactory  and  convincing  than  at  the 
present  day.     He  says,  — 

"  Several  musical  instruments  were  played  upon  at 
the  same  time  ;  a  spirit  calling  himself  John  King  spoke 
through  the  trumpet;  at  times  spirit  hands  appeared, 
which  all  could  see  and  feel.  The  boys  were  tied  and 
untied  without  mortal  aid,  and  once,  when  Ira  was  tied 
with  a  stout  bed-cord,  his  coat  was  taken  off  and  the 
ropes  not  disturbed  at  all.  These  demonstrations  were 
given  under  conditions  which  precluded  the  possibility 
of  deception,  even  had  there  existed  any  disposition  to 
deceive." 

Another  of  the  Buffalo  mediums  was  a  Miss  Brooks, 
in  whose  presence  the  piano  was  played  upon  without 
visible  hands,  the  instrument  being  turned  with  the 
keys  toward  the  wall.  Not  only  were  accompaniments 
given  to  anything  sung  by  the  company,  but  some- 
times original  compositions  of  no  small  merit.  One 
of  these,  called  "  The  Shipwreck,"  was  especially  fine, 
—  the  roaring  of  the  waves,  the  rushing  of  the  wind, 
the  creaking  of  timbers,  the  final  crash,  and  even  the 
shrieks  of  the  dying,  being  plainly  distinguishable. 


MEDIA   MET    WITH.  57 

I  subjoin  one  other  account  of  phenomena  witnessed 
by  him  in  Buffalo,  some  of  which  then  seemed  almost 
too  marvelous  for  belief  even  to  an  eye-witness,  but 
which  will  easily  find  credence  now,  as  parallel  cases 
have  become  in  some  degree  common,  and  are  well 
attested. 

"  There  was  in  Buffalo  a  Miss  Judah,  who  lay  sick, 
and  whom  the  physicians  had  given  up  to  die.  Indeed, 
she  was  so  low  as  to  be  unable  to  turn  herself  in  bed, 
but  lay  in  a  kind* of  stupor,  apparently  unconscious  of 
anything  that  took  place  around  her.  In  her  presence 
some  of  the  most  wonderful  manifestations  took  place 
that  I  ever  saw  or  read  of,  either  in  ancient  or  modern 
times.  These  consisted  of  speaking  and  singing  in 
audible  voices,  without  mortal  agency ;  some  coarse  and 
boisterous  talkings,  others  more  refined;  men's  voices 
and  women's  voices,  sometimes  two  or  three  at  the 
same  time.  The  principal  speaker  was  a  coarse-voiced 
woman,  who  called  herself  Frank,  and  seemed  to  be 
very  powerful ;  another  voice  was  that  of  a  young  man 
who  sang  beautifully,  accompanying  himself  upon  the 
guitar.  Sometimes  Frank  would  interrupt  him,  —  tell 
him  to  stop,  for  she  wanted  to  talk,  &c.  Spirit  hands 
opened  and  shut  doors,  and  were  visible  to  all.  This 
Frank  seemed  to  have  a  particular  spite  against  the 
doctor,  would  throw  sticks  of  wood  at  him,  and  order 
him  out  of  the  house  every  time  he  came.  She  would 
call  every  one  by  name.  The  first  time  I  went  there 
she  addressed  me  by  my  whole  name,  which  was  known 
to  no  person  in  Buffalo;  informed  me  that  she  liked 
me  ;  had  been  to  hear  me  lecture,  and  should  go  again  ; 
told  me  the  dates  upon  several  pieces  of  money  in  my 


*  « 
58  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

pocket,  and  then  asked  me  if  I  would  like  to  have  the 
4  young  man '  sing  for  me.     I  said,  4  Yes.' 

44  4  Well,'  she  rejoined,  4  he  shall  sing  for  you.  What 
piece  will  you  have  ?  ' 

44  4  O,'  replied  I,  laughing,  4  have  him  sing  my  favor- 
ite.' Thereupon  the  guitar  was  taken  and  tuned,  and 
the  voice  sang  the  Scotch  song,  4  Annie  Laurie,'  in  the 
most  unexceptionable  and  expressive  manner.  When 
he  had  concluded,  Frank  said,  — 

44  4  There  !  you  didn't  think  I  knew  what  your  favor- 
ite song  was  —  did  you?  You  know  better  now.'  I 
admitted  that  she  was  right. 

44 1  went  there  several  times,  and  on  each  occasion 
the  talkings  came  in  a  similar  manner.  On  my  last 
visit  Frank  said,  4  Albert,  I  am  going  to  write  you  a 
letter ; '  and  sure  enough,  just  before  I  left,  from  the 
half  open  door  of  the  room  where  the  sick  girl  lay,  a 
large  hand  and  arm  was  reached  forth,  the  hand  hold- 
ing a  letter,  which,  on  taking  and  opening,  I  found  to 
contain  several  lines  coarsely  written  with  a  pencil,  and 
a  small  velvet  flower." 

From  Buffalo  he  continued  eastward  toward  New 
York,  lecturing  on  the  way  at  Rochester,  Syracuse, 
Homer,  Courtland,  and  Binghamton,  arriving  in  New 
York  the  21st  of  April.  There  he  found  a  true 
friend  in  A.  J.  Davis,  and  also  made  the  acquaintance 
of  Messrs.  Partridge  and  Brittan,  who  were  then  pub- 
lishing the  44  Spiritual  Telegraph."  He  spoke,  the  fol- 
lowing Sunday  afternoon,  at  the  Stuyvesant  Institute, 
where  the  Spiritualists  were  then  holding  meetings, 
and  in  the  evening  in  Brooklyn.  On  Monday  left 
for  Hartford,  Conn.,  where  he  met  Mrs.  Mettler,  the 
clairvoyant  healer,  and  lectured  once  only,  as  he  had 


LECTURES  IN  BOSTON,  59 

an  engagement  in  Boston  for  the  first  two  Sundays  of 
May. 

Not  being  entirely  devoid  of  that  traditional  rever- 
ence for  the  "  Hub  "  which  is  supposed  to  be  inherent 
in  the  constitution  of  every  child  of  New  England,  he 
felt  that  here  was  the  turning-point  in  his  career,  and 
that  if  he  could  succeed  in  the  "Athens  of  America," 
he  had  nothing  more  to  fear.  On  Sunday,  May  4,  he 
occupied  the  desk  at  Music  Hall  for  the  first  time,  and 
again  the  following  Sunday.  His  success  exceeded  his 
most  sanguine  expectations.  The  "  New  England  Spir- 
itualist," A.  E.  Newton  editor,  gave  him  most  kind 
and  flattering  notice,  and  the  Rubicon  was  passed.  It 
was  during  his  stay  in  Boston  that  he  first  improvised 
from  a  subject  presented  by  the  audience,  the  first  trial 
being  made  in  the  presence  of  some  friends,  at  the  resi- 
dence of  Mr.  Tenny.  This  feat,  the  fulfillment  of  a 
prophecy  made  nearly  a  year  previous,  was  afterward 
repeated  in  public,  and  became  a  prominent  feature  in 
his  public  efforts.  A  list  of  the  different  subjects  so 
given,  and  upon  which  poems  were  pronounced,  would 
of  itself  fill  a  good-sized  volume.  He  once  kept  an 
account  of  the  different  themes  so  presented  in  two 
months,  and  the  result  was  forty-two ;  and  this  might 
be  considered  a  fair  average  during  at  least  ten 
years. 

After  speaking  one  Sunday  at  Lowell,  he  next  went 
to  Portland,  giving  there  six  lectures,  which  drew  large 
audiences,  and  were  highly  praised  by  the  daily  press. 
Two  weeks  later  he  gave  a  second  series  of  lectures 
there,  and  also  went  to  Brunswick,  Maine,  —  the  loca- 
tion of  Bowdoin  College,  —  lecturing,  Sunday  evening, 
in  the  Unitarian  Church.     When  a  theme  for  a  poem 


60  BIOGRAPHT  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

was  called  for,  a  smart  young  student  gave  the  subject 
of  "Humbug,"  which,  to  his  surprise,  was  accepted 
without  hesitation,  and  he  received  more  than  he  bar- 
gained for,  in  the  way  of  a  lesson  on  the  subject  pro- 
posed. 

The  time  intervening  between  the  two  Portland 
engagements  was  spent  in  visiting  his  old  home,  East 
Abington,  from  which  he  had  been  absent  over  three 
years,  during  which  time  he  had  so  changed  in  appear- 
ance, by  reason  of  his  improved  health,  that  hardly  one 
of  his  relatives  recognized  him  at  first  sight.  While 
there  he  delivered  a  course  of  lectures  and  attended  a 
large  mass  grove  meeting  of  Spiritualists,  at  the  cele- 
brated Island  Grove,  which  had  been  a  favorite  resort 
of  his  boyhood,  and  where  he  now  addressed  an  audi- 
ence of  about  two  thousand  people.  What  were  his 
emotions  that  day,  as  he  looked  back  over  the  changes 
of  three  years,  and  realized  that  he  had  entered  upon 
another  "Act"  in  the  grand  "Drama  of  Life,"  can 
never  be  told. 

He  enjoyed  on  this  occasion  a  visit  with  his  grand- 
mother Whiting,  whom  he  found  as  great  a  spiritualist 
as  ever,  —  her  intellect  undimmed  by  age,  —  and  from 
whom  he  received  an  intelligent  appreciation  and  ear- 
nest sympathy,  which  he  highly  prized. 

It  was  now  into  July,  and  he  started  homeward, 
stopping  one  Sunday  at  Rochester,  and  going  thence  to 
Buffalo,  with  the  intention  of  taking  the  steamer 
Northern  Indiana  to  Toledo.  Here  occurred  a  remark- 
able instance  of  foresight  on  the  part  of  his  spirit  guide, 
which  he  relates  as  follows :  — 

"As  I  was  going  on  board  the  steamer,  Farini  ap- 
peared to  me,  and  said,  — 


LIFE  SAVED  BY  A   SPIRIT.  61 

"  4  Do  not  go  upon  that  boat ;  go  over  and  take  the 
steamer  Mississippi,  by  way  of  Detroit.'  I  did  so.  In 
the  night  he  again  came  to  me,  saying,  — 

"  4  The  reason  I  told  you  to  come  by  this  boat  is  this  : 
The  "Northern  Indiana"  will  be  burned  to-morrow.' 
The  next  day,  about  ten  o'clock,  the  two  boats  being 
about  seven  miles  apart,  the  4  Northern  Indiana '  was 
discovered  to  be  on  fire.  I  was  the  first  to  see  it,  for 
I  was  expecting  it,  relying  upon  the  information  I  had 
received.  About  fifty  lives  were  lost,  the  balance  being 
rescued  by  our  boat.  The  scene  was  heart-rending  in 
the  extreme.  Thus  was  my  life  preserved  from  the 
most  imminent  danger  by  a  spirit,  and  I  arrived  home 
in  safety  on  the  17th  of  July,  after  an  absence  of  four 
months." 

The  ensuing  fall  and  winter  he  spent  in  the  west, 
visiting  most  of  the  principal  towns  of  Illinois,  several 
in  Wisconsin,  and  also  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  averaging  five 
lectures  a  week  during  the  entire  time,  and  meeting 
with  the  most  gratifying  success.  In  many  of  these 
places  he  delivered  the  first  public  lectures  on  Spiritu- 
alism to  which  their  people  had  ever  listened.  Of 
course  he  did  not  escape  the  abuse  of  enemies,  nor,  in 
all  cases,  the  misconception  and  ill-judged  zeal  of 
friends ;  but  he  had  the  rich  satisfaction  of  triumphing 
over  all  difficulties,  and  reaping  not  only  the  reward  of 
an  approving  conscience,  but  also  of  generous  apprecia- 
tion at  the  hands  of  the  public.  At  Mendota  he,  for 
the  first  time,  conducted  a  funeral  service  —  an  office 
he  was  often  thereafter  called  upon  to  fill.  He  spent 
his  twenty-first  birthday  in  St.  Louis,  being  on  that 
occasion  most  hospitably  entertained  by  a  good  friend, 
Mr.  A.  Miltenberger. 


62  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.    WHITING, 

The  beauty  of  some  of  these  western  towns  was 
highly  gratifying  to  his  aesthetic  taste.  With  Rockford 
and  Bloomington,  111.,  he  was  particularly  pleased ; 
also  Madison,  Wis.,  of  which  he  says, — 

"  It  is  the  'prettiest  city  I  ever  saw.  It  is  situated  on 
a  slight  elevation  of  land,  sloping  gradually  on  either 
side  to  beautiful  lakes.  In  the  center,  upon  the  top  of 
the  eminence,  is  the  public  square,  containing  fourteen 
acres  of  land,  covered  with  oak  trees  in  a  state  of  nature, 
although  the  grounds  are  laid  out  in  elegant  style.  On 
this  square  are  the  Capitol  buildings,  built  of  cream- 
colored  stone,  —  of  which  also  most  of  the  buildings  in 
the  city  are  composed, — presenting  a  most  beautiful 
combination  of  nature  and  art." 

At  Rockford  an  incident  occurred  which  he  records 
as  follows :  "I  was  sent  for  to  visit  a  man  who  was 
about  to  be  executed  for  murder.  I  went  and  talked 
with  him  about  an  hour ;  gave  him  my  views  of  the 
future  life ;  told  him  many  things ;  so  that  I  trust, 
when  he  awoke  in  the  spirit  land,  he  was  not  entirely  a 
stranger  to  its  realities.  Of  the  barbarity  of  this  kill- 
ing a  man  according  to  law  I  said  nothing  then,  nor 
of  the  murder  which  he  had  committed,  for  I  consider 
the  former  the  most  brutal  of  the  two.  I  can  not  look 
upon  it  as  right  to  kill  a  man  in  cold  blood  because  he 
has  killed  another,  so  long  as  we  have  secure  prisons  in 
which  to  confine  him.  That  interview  was  a  source  of 
instruction  to -me  as  well  as  to  him." 

May  1,  1857,  after  a  brief  rest  at  home,  he  set  out 
for  Philadelphia,  lecturing  by  the  way  at  Cleveland 
and  several  other  points  in  Ohio.  This  was  his  first 
visit  to  the  Quaker  City,  and  he  found  it  "  different 
from  any  other  city  "  he  had  seen,  but  was  very  favor- 


VISIT  TO  PHILADELPHIA.  63 

ably  impressed  with  the  people.  The  venerable  Sam- 
uel Barry,  who  kept  a  spiritual  bookstore  and  periodi- 
cal depot,  took  a  great  interest  in  his  welfare,  and  on 
parting,  presented  him  with  a  letter  which  might  be 
considered  a  model  specimen  of  apt  and  affectionate 
advice  from  age  to  youth. 

He  also  had  the  pleasure  of  making  the  acquaintance 
of  Professor  Hare,  Dr.  Child,  and  many  other  noble 
workers  in  the  spiritualistic  ranks.  He  returned  home 
through  Central  New  York,  spending  the  month  of 
July  at  Syracuse  and  Saratoga,  and  remained  until  after 
the  15th  of  August,  at  which  time  the  two  years  of 
his  contract  with  his  spirit  guide  expired.  He  natu- 
rally awaited  the  dawning  of  that  day  with  some  curi- 
osity, particularly  as,  for  the  two  weeks  intervening 
between  his  last  lecture  at  Syracuse  and  that  date,  that 
constant  friend  seemed  to  have  departed,  and  left  him 
to  his  own  reflections. 

Extract  from  Journal. 

"  With  the  day  came  Farini.     He  said,  — 

" 4  The  time  has  expired.  Are  you  satisfied  with 
your  success  ?  ■ 

44  4 1  am  more  than  satisfied,'  I  replied. 

"  4  You  now  believe  in  the  power  of  a  spirit  to  guard 
and  protect —  do  you  not  ?  ' 

44  4  Yes ;  I  am  fully  convinced  of  their  ability  to  guide 
those  whom  they  choose  as  their  instruments.' 

44  4  Do  you  wish  to  continue  under  my  guidance  ?  ' 

444 1  do.' 

44  4 1  anticipated  your  answer.  It  shall  be  so.  I  will 
again  be  a  light  in  your  pathway,  supplying  you  with 
knowledge,  fit  food  for  humanity.     The  time  shall  be 


64  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.   WHITING. 

unlimited.  You  have  fulfilled  your  portion  of  the  con- 
tract ;  mine  I  voluntarily  continue ;  and  you,  of  your 
own  free  will  and  pleasure,  accept  my  proffered  aid. 
Still  will  I  o'ershadow  you  with  such  mantles  as  I 
deem  adapted  to  your  mental  constitution  and  the 
wants  of  those  to  whom  you  minister.  Go  forth  again 
upon  your  mission.' 

"  I  had  many  invitations  to  lecture  on  hand,  but  had 
replied  to  none,  wishing  first  to  consult  him  to  whom  I 
am  indebted  for  so  much  help,  in  whose  presence  I  feel 
myself  but  a  child.  After  receiving  these  words  of 
encouragement,  I  at  once  made  arrangements  for  the 
fall  and  winter." 


CHAPTER   VI. 

SECOND  APPEARANCE  IN  BOSTON.  —  THE  HARVARD 
PROFESSORS. — PROFESSOR  FELTON  SELECTS  SUB- 
JECTS FOR    IMPROVISATION. —  EXTRACTS  FROM  THE 

BOSTON  PRESS.  —  FIRST  TRIP  TO  THE  FAR   SOUTH. 

RETURN  HOME  IN  APRIL,   1858. 

His  first  engagement  was  in  Providence,  R.  I.,  the 
Sundays  of  September.  During  the  month  he  spoke 
week  evenings  at  Norwich,  Conn.,  Greenwich,  Paw- 
tucket,  and  Newport,  R.  I.,  and  also  enjoyed  sundry  ex- 
cursions to  Rocky  Point  and  other  places  of  interest  in  the 
vicinity ;  saw  some  powerful  physical  demonstrations  at 
the  residence  of  Judge  Manchester,  through  the  medi- 
umship  of  his  daughter.     One  evening  he  was  there  to 


SECOND  APPEARANCE  IN  BOSTON.  65 

tea ;  the  table  was  spread  for  twelve,  the  tea  poured 
out,  when  the  table  began  to  rise  slowly,  and,  with  no 
person  touching  it,  remained  an  instant  suspended  at  a 
hight  of  about  two  feet  from  the  floor,  and  then  gently 
descended,  without  breaking  or  displacing  a  dish  or  spill- 
ing a  drop  of  liquid.  From  Providence  to  Portland, 
Me.,  for  a  month,  and  thence  to  Boston,  beginning  there 
Sunday,  November  22,  to  a  good  audience,  which  was  in- 
creased the  next  Sunday.  The  week  following  he  spoke 
in  Cambridge,  and  there  met  the  renowned  Harvard 
professors,  who  became  sufficiently  interested  in  his 
lectures  and  improvisations  to  induce  them  to  attend  his 
lectures  in  Boston  the  ensuing  Thursday  evening,  De- 
cember 3,  and  also  the  two  Sunday  evenings  following. 

As,  several  years  after,  there  arose  some  controversy 
with  regard  to  the  discussions  which  took  place  at  this 
time,  particularly  with  reference  to  the  language  used 
by  the  learned  Greek  scholar,  Professor  Felton,  which 
was  only  settled  by  recourse  to  the  full  reports  given 
by  the  Boston  press  at  the  time,  I  shall  give  a  more  ex- 
tended account  of  the  matter  than  I  might  otherwise 
deem  necessary. 

Besides  the  brief  account  contained  in  his  journal, 
and  the  general  recollection  of  living  witnesses,  I  have 
before  me  files  of  several  newspapers  published  in  Boston 
at  the  time,  among  them  the  "  New  England  Spiritual- 
ist," "  Banner  of  Light,"  and  also  the  sheet  which  was 
at  that  time  considered  the  organ,  par  excellence,  of 
old  fogyism,  viz.,  the  "  Boston  Courier."  From  these 
papers,  holding  such  widely  different  religious  views, 
yet  agreeing  in  their  reports  in  all  material  respects,  I 
shall  give  some  extracts. 
5 


66  BIOGRAPHT  OF  A.  B.  WHITING, 

From  the  New  England  Spiritualist,  December  12,  1857. 

A.  B.  Whiting  at  the  Meionaon. — Two  Profess- 
ors in  the  Field. 

Mr.  A.  B.  Whiting  lectured  at  the  Meionaon  on 
Thursday  evening  of  last  week,  taking  as  a  text 
"Man,  know  thyself."     He  spoke  of  man  as  a  trinity 

—  soul,  spirit,  and  matter  combined  —  the  image  of  God 

—  the  fairest  of  his  works.  Man  should  search  into 
the  depths  of  his  own  mental  and  spiritual  nature.  He 
can  thus  learn  more  than  by  studying  the  outward 
world ;  for  man  is  an  epitome  of  the  universe.  As  he 
learns  the  laws  of  his  own  being  is  he  better  prepared 
to  understand  the  nature  of  spirit  life.  Everything 
that  gives  us  a  knowledge  of  the  soul  is  of  use.  There- 
fore, if  no  other  benefit  were  to  be  derived  from  spirit 
manifestations,  they  are  useful  in  causing  us  to  inves- 
tigate the  laws  of  mind,  and  in  teaching  man  to  know 
himself.  As  lofty  minds  are  led  to  examine  this  subject, 
though  they  may  form  diverse  opinions  upon  it,  yet  will 
they  help  to  expand  our  knowledge  of  human  nature. 

As  spirit  communion  becomes  more  common,  minds 
will  become  more  unfolded,  and  men  will  receive 
higher  lessons  of  truth.  Their  greatest  knowledge 
will  be  to  know  that  knowledge  will  never  cease.  When 
the  time  should  arrive  that  there  was  nothing  more  for 
man  to  learn,  it  would  be  well  for  him  to  become  an- 
other creature,  for  his  existence  would  cease  to  have 
any  interest.  It  is  a  rule  in  nature,  that  nothing  can 
understand  that  which  is  above  it ;  we  can  fully  com- 
prehend only  that  which  is  on  a  level  with  or  below  us. 
Men  understand  the  past  better  than  the  present.     No 


IMPR  O  VISA  TION.  67 

age  is  appreciated  in  the  present ;  but  when  it  becomes 
the  past,  its  merits  and  its  virtues  are  looked  back  upon 
and  acknowledged.  So  will  it  be  with  the  present  age 
and  its  spiritual  developments.  The  future  that  now  is 
will  look  back  upon  them  and  assign  them  their  true 
worth.  Man  will  never  understand  the  present  in 
which  he  lives  until  he  becomes  more  intuitively  de- 
veloped. 

He  then  went  on  to  speak  of  the  wonderful  faculties 
of  the  human  mind,  and  the  desirability  of  developing 
them  to  that  state  where  they  will  be  in  harmony  with 
all  God's  works.  Men  were  drawn  nearer  the  spirit 
world  by  spirit  communion,  and  the  more  a  man  knows 
of  that  world  the  better  for  him,  intellectually,  re- 
ligiously, spiritually.  The  earth  was  made  that  man 
might  exist;  man  was  made  to  give  birth  to  a  spirit 
bright  and  beautiful,  to  live  a  holy  and  happy  life.  Man 
was  made  in  the  image  of  God — not  physically,  as  some 
say,  but  spiritually.  He  contains  within  himself  the 
germ  of  wisdom,  love,  and  truth.  When  man  shall  learn 
better  the  faculties  of  the  mind,  he  will  learn  better 
the  laws  by  which  the  universe  is  governed,  God  being 
the  soul  of  the  universe,  as  the  soul  of  man  is  the 
animative  power  of  the  body.     "  Man,  know  thyself." 

At  the  close  of  the  lecture  Professor  Felton,  as  chair- 
man of  a  committee  appointed  at  the  opening  of  the 
meeting  to  select  a  subject  for  improvisation,  read  a  list 
of  topics,  remarking  that  they  were  not  designed  or 
expected  to  test  the  medium's  claims  to  spirit  influence, 
but  as  affording  subjects  to  improvise  upon.  The  me- 
dium chose  from  the  list  as  read  the  following  selection 
from  Schiller:  — 


68  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.  WHITING. 

"  On  the  mountain  is  freedom  !  the  breath  of  decay 
Never  sullies  the  fresh-flowing  air; 
O,  nature  is  perfect  wherever  we  stray ; 
'Tis  man  that  deforms  it  with  care." 

An  extempore  poetic  composition  of  some  fifteen 
minutes  in  length  was  then  delivered  with  too  great 
rapidity  for  a  reporter's  pencil  to  follow.  As  to  its 
merits,  the  reader  will  form  his  conclusion  after  reading 
what  here-  follows :  — 

Dr.  Gardner,  at  the  conclusion  of  the  poem,  said  that 
remarks  would  be  in  order  from  any  person  in  the  au- 
dience ;  whereupon  Professor  Horsford  arose  and  made 
the  inquiry,  "  Though  this  performance  is  not  put  forth 
as  a  test  of  spirit  influence,  is  it  not  to  be  taken  as  such 
by  the  audience?  Is  it  not  expected  that  it  will  be 
received  as  proof  of  the  presence  and  power  of  spirits 
from  another  world  ?  " 

Dr.  G.  replied  that  he  expected  each  individual  to 
judge  for  himself.  For  his  own  part  he  did  not  consider 
trance-speaking,  by  itself,  as  conclusive  proof.  His 
belief  in  spirit  manifestations  rested  mainly  upon  other 
evidences. 

Professor  Horsford  remarked  that  improvisation  is  a 
common  thing  in  some  parts  of  the  world.  In  Western 
New  York  he  had  heard  Methodist  exhorters  who  spoke 
in  a  surprising  manner — quite  equal  to  Mr.  Whiting. 
Improvising  poems  is  quite  common  in  Italy,  where 
numerous  persons  can  be  found  who  for  a  small  coin 
will  recite  poems  on  any  subject  named.  He  knows  a 
child  six  years  old  who  will  repeat  rhymes  by  the  hour 
together.  He  is  acquainted  with  several  young  ladies 
who  have  practiced  the  same  thing  successfully.  A  poem 
was  once  given  Coleridge  in  a  dream,  which  so  impressed 


IMPR  O  VISA  TION.  6  9 

his  memory  that  he  wrote  it  out  in  full  upon  waking. 
This  gift  is  not  a  remarkable  one,  and  should  not  be 
regarded  as  evidence  of  a  spirit  acting  upon  men.  [Here 
follows  a  rejoinder  by  Dr.  Gardner,  to  the  effect  that  if 
a  man  performs  in  the  trance  that  which  he  could  not 
in  the  normal  state,  he  could  not  account  for  it  except 
upon  the  supposition  that  there  was  an  assisting  power 
above  and  beyond  him.] 

Professor  Felton  then  rose  and  said  that  he  must  bear 
evidence  to  the  truth.  He  claimed  to  be  a  Spiritualist, 
a  devout  believer  in  the  existence  of  spirits  in  a  better 
world.  He  had  listened  with  pleasure,  and  not  without 
admiration,  to  the  improvisation  of  Mr.  Whiting,  and 
with  nine  tenths  of  what  had  been  advanced  he  did  not 
differ,  but  he  saw  no  evidence  in  it  of  the  truth  of 
Spiritualism.  His  belief  in  spirit  existence  was  drawn 
from  the  study  of  human  nature,  from  the  writings  of 
philosophers,  and  from  the  Scriptures.  He  did  not  dif- 
fer from  Dr.  G.  or  the  speaker,  except  where  they  have 
assumed  what  is  unproved  —  that  these  things  come 
from  spirits.  Like  Professor  Horsford  he  looked  upon 
improvisation  as  nothing  extraordinary  or  wonderful. 
In  Greece,  the  land  of  poetry,  there  are  hundreds  who 
can  not  read  or  write  who  have  a  remarkable  faculty  of 
improvisation.  He  gave  the  medium  credit  for  the  tal- 
ent displayed,  and  admitted  there  were  many  poetical 
expressions  in  the  poem,  and  this  power  was  proof  of 
the  presence  in  its  possessor  of  a  very  bright  spirit,  be 
it  embodied  or  disembodied. 

But  there  were  imperfections  in  the  production,  as 
might  be  expected.  Only  a  poet  of  the  very  highest 
genius  could  have  improvised  a  faultless  poem.  The 
speech,  as  is  the  case  with  all  mediums,  was  character- 


70  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.  WHITING. 

istic  of  the  individual.  He  thought  it,  therefore,  rational 
to  suppose  that  it  all  came  from  the  medium.  It  re- 
quired longer  legs  than  he  had  ever  seen  to  make  a 
logical  step  to  the  conclusion  that  it  came  from  a  dis- 
embodied spirit. 

Dr.  Gardner  thought  that  the  fact  of  the  communica- 
tions, partaking  in  some  measure  of  the  peculiarities  of 
the  medium,  did  not  militate  against  their  spiritual 
origin.  He  illustrated  by  comparison:  A  stream  of 
pure  water,  when  made  to  run  through  pine  logs,  be- 
came impregnated  with  the  quality  of  the  wood,  so  as 
to  taste  differently  from  what  it  would  if  taken  fresh 
from  the  spring ;  but  it  was  the  same  water,  neverthe- 
less, and  came  from  the  spring.  Scripture  furnishes 
analogous  examples.  The  inspirations  of  Moses  and 
Jesus  are  widely  different ;  they  partake  of  their  gen- 
eral characteristics. 

[The  discussion,  having  thus  become  general,  was  con- 
tinued to  some  length,  but  having  no  further  personal 
reference,  is  omitted.] 

Repetitions  are  tedious ;  therefore  I  shall  only  quote 
one  paragraph  from  the  "Courier"  report,  viz.:  the 
first  remarks  of  Professor  Felton,  which  will  be  seen  to 
coincide  almost  exactly  with  the  report  given  above. 

From  the  Boston  Courier,  December  4,  1857. 

Professor  Felton  then  rose  and  said,  that  he  claimed 
to  be  a  Spiritualist,  a  devout  believer  in  the  existence 
of  spirits  in  a  better  world ;  but  he  had  not  seen  any 
evidence  to  sustain  what  is  called  modern  Spiritualism. 
He  had  listened  with  pleasure,  and  not  without  admira- 
tion, to  the  improvisation  by  Mr.  Whiting.  But  he 
must  consider  it  as  nothing  extraordinary  or  wonderful. 


EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  BOSTON  PRESS.        71 

Among  the  nations  of  Southern  Europe  improvisation 
is  a  common  practice.  In  Greece,  the  land  of  poetry  and 
poets,  men  and  women  who  are  not  even  able  to  read  or 
write  possess  the  power  of  improvisation  to  a  remarka- 
ble extent.  That  power  was  proof  of  the  presence  of  a 
very  bright  spirit,  be  it  embodied  or  disembodied. 

The  following  Sunday  —  Dec.  6th  —  the  poem  on 
the  subject  of  "  Belshazzar's  Feast  "  —  a  fragment  of 
which  will  be  found  in  another  part  of  this  book  —  was 
improvised,  and  in  the  evening  Professor  Felton  was 
again  at  the  head  of  the  committee,  as  will  be  seen  by 
the  subjoining  extract. 

From  the  Banner  of  Light,  December  12,  1857. 

At  the  close  of  the  singing,  Mr.  Whiting  took  his 
stand  in  the  desk,  and  the  subject  of  the  discourse  was 
announced  as  follows  :  "  The  Religious  Nature  of  Man, 
and  its  Application  to  Modes  of  Worship,"  upon  which 
an  exceedingly  interesting  and  instructive  discourse 
was  given,  commanding  the  earnest  attention  of  the 
audience,  not  even  excepting  the  learned  gentlemen 
from  Harvard. 

After  the  close  of  the  discourse,  the  subject  for  a 
poem  was  announced  by  Professor  Felton,  and  was  as 
follows :  "  The  Duty  of  the  Living  to  the  Memory  of 
the  Dead."  Several  subjects  had  been  prepared  by  the 
committee,  but  on  the  first  and  second  being  read,  the 
controlling  intelligence  announced  its  preference  for 
the  first ;  and,  after  a  moment's  delay,  the  medium 
commenced  the  improvisation,  which  occupied  near  a 
quarter  of  an  hour,  showing  the  "  duties  of  the  living 
to  the  memory  of   the    (so-called)   dead;"  teaching 


72  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.   B.    WHITING. 

us  that  our  duty  to  those  who  have  left  the  form,  and 
passed  to  a  higher  life,  is  to  live  lives  of  purity,  love, 
and  kindness  to  our  fellow-man,  and  thus  show  our 
appreciation  of  the  Great  Source  of  our  being  — 
teaching  us  that  we  should  understand  the  great  truth, 
that  those  friends  who  have  left  the  form,  and  passed 
to  the  spirit  world,  are  not  dead,  but  that  they  are  only 
born  to  a  more  beautiful  state  of  existence,  with  the 
ability  to  return  to  us,  whom  they  loved  when  with  us, 
and  cheer  and  encourage  us  onward  in  our  efforts. 

I  will  only  add  the  report  of  the-  proceedings  upon 
the  succeeding  and  closing  Sunday  of  this  engage- 
ment, from  the  columns  of  the  "  New  England  Spirit- 
ualist," of  December  19. 

44  Mr.  A.  B.  Whiting  closed  his  series  of  lectures  at 
the  Melodeon,  on  Sunday  last,  in  a  manner  to  add  to 
his  already  high  reputation  as  a  medium.  In  the  after- 
noon he  spoke  on  the  4  Harmonies  of  the  Universe,' 
after  which  an  improvisation  was  given  —  subject, 
1  The  Transfiguration  of  Christ  on  the  Mount.'  The 
evening  discourse  was  on  the  Golden  Age,  and  was, 
without  question,  the  best  that  has  been  given  by  the 
speaker  in  this  city.  For  an  improvisation  he  chose, 
from  a  list  of  topics  presented  by  a  committee,  the 
theme  4  Knowledge  cometh  by  Suffering.' 

44  After  the  close  of  the  evening  services  on  the  part 
of  Mr.  Whiting,  Professor  Felton  rose  and  expressed 
his  opinion  of  the  discourse.  He  admired  the  ability 
displayed,  thought  the  style  was  elegant,  and  the  lan- 
guage appropriate,  and  the  sentiments  exalted.  He 
approved  of  it  unqualifiedly  in  these  respects  ;  but  he 
saw  no  evidence  that  it  came  from  a  spirit,  and  he 


EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  BOSTON  PRESS.        73 

must  protest  against  any  such  conclusion.  The  ideas 
advanced  were  not  new ;  they  were  the  same  as  had 
been  advanced  by  Socrates  and  Plato  centuries  ago, 
and  by  many  intelligent  minds  since.  He  himself  had 
entertained  similar  views  for  years ;  but  no  disembodied 
spirit  had  ever  come  to  him.  It  required  no  spirit  from 
another  world  to  tell  us  that  a  righteous  life  is  the  way 
to  happiness.     .     .     . 

"  Dr.  Gardner  thanked  the  professor  for  his  high  com- 
pliments to  the  medium,  and  said  he  thought  it  would 
be  foolish  in  a  person  like  Mr.  Whiting  to  attribute 
such  excellent  discourses  to  other  minds,  when,  if  they 
were  his  own,  he  might  receive  the  individual  honor 
which  he  now  disclaimed.  As  to  the  idea  that  it  re- 
quired no  spirit  to  come  and  inculcate  these  doctrines 
of  virtue,  he  thought,  on  the  same  principle,  that  God 
did  not  need  to  embody  himself  in  humanity,  and  come 
down  to  earth  to  teach  men  to  love  one  another. 

"  As  Professor  Felton  had  made  allusion  to  Socrates, 
he  was  asked  to  explain  what  Socrates  meant  by  speak- 
ing of  his  familiar  spirit  ? 

"  The  professor,  after  some  circumlocution,  said  he 
probably  meant  the  voice  of  conscience. 

"  The  inquiry  was  then  made  :  Could  the  professor 
explain  how  it  was  that,  three  days  before  he  took  the 
poison,  Socrates  predicted  that  a  certain  vessel  which 
was  expected  to  arrive  would  not  arrive  till  after  his 
death? 

"  Professor  Felton  thought  it  too  difficult  a  question, 
involving  too  many  abstruse  points,  to  enter  upon  the 
merits  of  at  that  time  and  place. 

"  4  But,'  returned  the  questioner,  4  did  not  Socrates 
himself  say  that  he  obtained  his  information  from  a 
demon  or  spirit?' 


74  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

A. 

"  The  professor  replied  that  Socrates  did  claim  to  be 
under  the  guidance  of  a  4  daimonion ; '  but  he  did  not 
think  he  meant  a  disembodied  spirit.  He  was  then 
asked  to  give  the  plain  English  of  daimonion.  He  said 
that  according  to  some  authorities  it  meant  one  of  a 
certain  order  of  spiritual  beings.  As  this  concession 
created  some  sensation  in  the  audience,  the  professor 
repeated  that  he  did  not  understand  it  to  mean  the  dis- 
embodied spirit  of  a  human  being. 

44  The  learned  gentleman  was  then  appealed  to  for  an 
explanation  of  what  Plato  meant  when  he  said,  4  Good 
men's  souls  are  made  demons  of  honor.' 

"  The  professor  replied  with  politeness  and  a  good 
many  words,  but  failed  to  touch  satisfactorily  the  point 
at  issue.  He  was  then  requested  to  explain  the  differ- 
ence between  the  influence  of  this  4  demon '  upon 
Socrates,  and  that  spoken  of  by  mediums  as  spirit 
influence. 

44  If  any  one  obtained  from  his  answer  a  correct  idea 
of  the  difference,  this  reporter  did  not ;  and  therefore 
our  readers  must  remain  in  ignorance. 

44  His  questioner  then  wished  to  know  if  a  communi- 
cation was  not  once  made  to  Socrates  through  the  oracle 
at  Delphi  ? 

44  Professor  Felton.  4  Yes ;  he  was  declared  the 
44 wisest  man;"  but  it  required  no  oracle  or  spirit  to 
say  that.' 

44  4  But  the  point  is,  did  not  Socrates  himself  receive 
the  Delphic  communications  as  coming  from  something 
higher  than  the  Pythoness,  who  was  the  medium  ?  ' 

*4  Professor  Felton.  4 1  cannot  speak  with  positive- 
ness  on  that  point ;  but  if  Socrates  accepted  the  belief, 
I  do  not.' 


EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  BOSTON  PRESS.       75 

"  The  discussion  was  kept  up  with  considerable  ear- 
nestness on  both  sides,  until  Professor  Horsford  rose 
and  turned  the  current  into  another  channel.  Pro- 
fessor Horsford  said  that  illusions  of  the  senses  were 
very  frequent  in  certain  states  of  health.  We  often 
see  and  hear  what  does  not  exist.  Nicolai,  of  Berlin, 
often  saw  figures  before  him,  and  heard  them  talk.  On 
one  occasion  he  saw  the  figure  of  his  wife,  who  had 
been  dead  some  time,  and,  rushing  to  meet  her,  was 
stopped  by  running  against  a  door,  and  thus  brought  to 
his  senses.  The  phenomena  always  occurred  when  his 
digestive  organs  were  in  a  certain  state.  But  his  case 
was  submitted  to  the  doctors,  and  on  his  being  thor- 
oughly bled,  the  phenomena  entirely  ceased.  Persons 
in  typhoid  fever  often  used  expressions  like  ■  We  are 
thirsty,'  'Give  us  some  drink' — adopting  the  plural 
form,  like  Mr.  Whiting  and  other  mediums  ;  but  physi- 
cians understood  this  to  be  the  result  of  disease ;  and 
thus  is  the  foundation  of  these  assumptions  of  spirit 
influence  knocked  away,  and  the  whole  shown  to  be  a 
fallacy. 

"Dr.  Gardner  wished  to  know  of  the  professor 
whether  the  apostles  did  really  see  Moses  and  Elias  on 
the  Mount  of  Transfiguration,  as  is  asserted ;  or  was  it 
an  illusion  of  the  senses  proceeding  from  their  state  of 
health  at  the  time ;  and  would  an  operation  in  phle- 
botomy have  removed  the  conviction  from  their  minds 
that  they  really  saw  those  spirits,  and  thus  proved  it 
all  a  fallacy. 

"  The  professor  denied  that  there  was  any  analogy 
between  the  cases  —  thought  that  the  Bible  instances 
were  entirely  out  of  the  question  —  a  separate  and  dis- 
tinct affair. 


76  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

"  Professor  Grimes,  4  the  Phreno-Geologist,'  thought 
it  more  extraordinary  to  suppose  that  the  young  man 
had  composed  the  poem  delivered  that  evening  im- 
promptu, than  to  believe  it  came  from  a  spirit.  Here 
was  something  wonderful,  if  it  were  really  true  that 
Mr.  Whiting  had  no  knowledge  beforehand  of  the  sub- 
ject matter.  He  questioned  the  originality  of  the  poem. 
Professor  Felton  said  he  would  do  Mr.  Whiting  the 
justice  to  say  that  the  production  was  entirely  original. " 
The  professor  himself  selected  the  subject;  so  there 
could  be  no  collusion  about  it. 

"  After  a  session  of  over  two  hours  and  a  half,  which 
engaged  the  constant  and  earnest  attention  of  the  large 
audience,  the  meeting  adjourned." 

So  much  for  his  public  labors  in  Boston  at  this  time. 
He  made  many  new  acquaintances  during  his  stay, 
among  whom  may  be  mentioned  two  or  three  well- 
known  laborers  in  the  spiritualistic  ranks ;  Frederick  L. 
H.  Willis,  whose  expulsion  from  Harvard  College  was 
then  a  quite  recent  event ;  Thomas  Gales  Forster,  who 
was  one  of  the  editors  of  the  "  Banner  "  at  that  time ; 
and  Mrs.  Henderson,  a  trance  speaker.  Of  the  latter 
he  says, — - 

"  I  heard  her  at  a  funeral ;  was  much  pleased.  O, 
how  much  more  beautiful  on  such  occasions  are  the 
consolations  of  a  spiritual  gospel  than  it  is  to  hear 
preached  the  old  philosophy  of  an  eternal  or  temporary 
sleep  and  final  resurrection !  How  much  more  consoling 
to  realize  that  the  dear  departed  one  still  hovers  near 
to  guard,  guide,  and  instruct,  still  bringing  to  the  souls 
of  earth  garlands  of  beauty  plucked  in  bowers  of  affection. 
How  appropriate  upon  such  occasions  to  hear  one 
speak,  who,  having  tasted  death,  is  consequently  pre- 


EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  BOSTON  PRESS.         77 

pared  to  give  an  explanation  of  its  realities,  telling  what 
lies  beyond  the  valley  as  none  other  can !  " 

The  last  of  December  he  left  Boston  for  Providence 
to  fulfill  a  second  engagement  of  four  Sundays.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  time  he  went  to  Baltimore  for  the_ 
first  time,  and  thence  west  to  St.  Louis,  and  down  the 
river  to  Memphis,  Tenn.,  and  other  southern  towns 
and  cities.  This  was  his  first  trip  south  of  St.  Louis, 
and  he  enjoyed  it  very  much.     He  says,  — 

" 1  spent  the  time  pleasantly  and  profitably  to  myself, 
and  I  trust  to  them  and  the  cause  of  truth  also." 

Educated  in  the  shadow  of  Faneuil  Hall  and  the 
"Boston  Liberator,"  where,  by  most  people,  slavery 
was  regarded  as  the  "  sum  of  all  villainies,"  and  the  slave- 
holder as  a  sort  of  half-human  monster,  he  was  naturally 
on  the  lookout  for  some  of  those  horrors  which  he  had 
heard  so  often  and  graphically  depicted.  The  result 
of  his  observations  on  the  subject  he  records  as  fol- 
lows :  — 

"During  this  trip  I  had  a  chance  to  see  more  of 
slavery  than  I  ever  saw  before ;  find  it  is  quite  a 
different  thing  from  what  it  is  described  to  be  in  the 
"  Liberator  "  and  "  Tribune."  The  negroes  are  gener^ 
ally  well  treated  and  cared  for,  and  contented  with  their 
condition.  The  negroes  of  Memphis,  in  particular,  are 
a  fine-looking  set ;  would  contrast  favorably  with  free 
negroes  anywhere.  One  day,  seeing  an  advertisement 
which  said  that  there  would  be  a  public  sale  of  slaves 
that  morning,  I  dropped  in  to  see  for  myself  what  has 
been  so  often  described  by  others,  some  giving  one  view, 
others  differing  widely.  Of  the  number  sold  none 
seemed  to  care  anything  about  it,  I  heard  no  shrieks, 
saw  no  tears,  nothing  terrible,  save  the  idea  of  selling 


78  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

men.  The  slaves  generally  were  a  jovial  set,  and  the 
auction  was  a  very  different  affair  in  reality  from  what 
it  is  described  to  be  by  those  who  have  never  seen  for 
themselves." 

April  1st  he  was  obliged  to  turn  his  reluctant  feet 
northward  to  fill  engagements  at  Attica  and  Delphi, 
Ind.  He  would  gladly  have  tarried  longer  in  the 
Sunny  South,  whose  climate  was  so  delightful  to  him, 
but  he  was  always  scrupulously  exact  in  keeping  ap- 
pointments, even  at  great  sacrifice  of  personal  comfort. 
He  was  somewhat  compensated,  however,  in  this  in- 
stance, for  physical  discomfort,  in  the  good  appreciation 
of  his  labors  at  the  above-mentioned  places,  and  returned 
home  in  May,  well  satisfied  with  the  work  of  the  past 
eight  months.  In  his  retrospective  glance  over  his  stay 
in  the  "  land  of  cotton  and  sweet  potatoes  "  he  says,  — 

"  Farewell,  home  of  magnolias  and  mocking-birds,  of 
lovely  ladies  and  whole-souled  men.  Farewell  to  «  Old 
Tennessee. '  I  hope  not  '  forever ; '  but,  however  that 
may  be,  in  memory  will  still  a  place  be  found  for  each 
loved  friend  north  and  south.  There  they  will  repose 
with  no  sectional  differences  to  divide ;  for  all  good 
friends  are  dear  to  me  in  proportion  to  the  amount  of 
real  mental  affinity  existing,  not  depending  upon  the 
place  where  they  were  born  or  the  peculiar  political 
views  they  may  entertain.     .     .     . 

44  The  past  is  past :  regret  or  exultation  are  alike  un- 
availing. Man  is  controlled  by  a  law  which  he  can 
neither  evade  nor  alter.  Many  things,  which  we  mourn 
as  evils  at  the  time  they  occur,  we  recognize  in  after 
years  as  blessings.  Thus  it  has  been  with  myself  as  re- 
gards many  events  in  the  past ;  so  I  trust  it  will  be  in 
the  future. 


IN  NE  W  ENGLAND  A  GAIN.  79 

"  Man  is  subject  to  the  same  great  law  that  controls 
all  other  forms  of  life.  Each  person  fills  his  own  place 
—  is  a  part  of  the  great  whole.  There  is  a  fatality  that 
governs  the  life  and  destiny  of  every  human  being ;  but 
we  also  have  a  freedom  to  investigate  and  search  for 
knowledge.  My  prayer  is,  that  I  may  be  led  into  truth. 
I  have  not  a  single  opinion  which  I  would  not  willingly 
exchange  for  a  better." 


CHAPTER  VII. 

IN  NEW  ENGLAND  AGAIN.  —  SIGNS  OF  PROGRESS. — 
RECALL  HOME  IN  JANUARY,  1859.  —  SICKNESS  AND 
DEATH  OF  HIS  FATHER.  —  SORROW  AND  CONSOLA- 
TION. 

On  the  1st  of  June,  1858,  lie  again  returned  to 
New  England,  speaking  first  in  Boston,  and  spending 
the  balance  of  the  summer  in  that  vicinity.  He  found 
that  much  progress  had  been  made  during  six  months 
toward  organized  effort.  In  twenty-five  places,  within 
a  radius  of  as  many  miles  of  Boston,  regular  meetings 
had  been  established,  and  were  flourishing.  The  de- 
mands upon  his  time  were  far  greater  than  he  could 
meet,  and  he  only  took  time  for  two  weeks'  rest  at  home 
in  September,  and  resumed  his  labors  in  Providence  in 
October.  It  was  during  this  engagement  there  that  he 
first  had  the  pleasure  of  listening  to  Emma  Hardinge, 
who  then,  as  now,  ranked  among  the  ablest  and  most 


80  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.   WHITING. 

eloquent  exponents  of  the  Spiritual  Philosophy.  It  is 
one  of  the  unavoidable  deprivations  of  a  lecturer's  life 
that  he  can  so  seldom  listen  to  the  public  efforts  of  his 
friends  and  co-]aborers.  Many  of  his  life-long  friends 
he  may  perhaps  never  hear  more  than  once  or  twice,  if 
at  all.  Such  was  the  case  with  my  brother,  as  with 
many  more,  doubtless,  whose  whole  time  was  given 
to  the  public.  His  engagements  from  this  time  until 
the  ensuing  January  included  Portland,  Me.,  Bos- 
ton, New  Bedford,  and  Waltham,  Mass.,  Providence, 
Newport,  and  Westerly,  K.  I.,  and  Willimantic, 
Conn.  Near  the  latter  place  he  saw  some  remark- 
ably powerful  physical  demonstrations  through  the 
mediumship  of  a  little  girl,  of  which  he  says,  "She 
placed  her  hands  on  a  large  stove,  which  I  could  not 
lift.  It  bounded  to  and  fro  in  answer  to  questions, 
lifted  up,  and  finally,  as  we  were  about  to  depart,  the 
front  part  of  it  rose  at  our  request,  and  shook  hands  with 
all  present — a  very  wonderful  proof  of  the  power  of  spirit 
over  inert  matter."  At  New  Bedford  he  also  witnessed 
an  unique  musical  manifestation.  A  harp  fastened  under 
a  table  was  made  to  play  most  beautiful  music  without 
the  aid  of  mortal  hands  —  a  fact  that  could  not  be  ques- 
tioned, as  the  room  was  brilliantly  lighted,  so  that  the 
concurrent  testimony  of  the  senses  of  sight  and  hearing 
was  available. 

He  had  intended,  on  closing  his  labors  in  New  Eng- 
land, to  go  thence  to  Baltimore,  and  spend  the  winter 
in  the  South ;  but  across  the  mystic  "  mental  telegraph  " 
flashed  the  urgent  message,  "Come  home!"  and,  though 
he  had  received  no  outward  intimation  that  all  was  not 
well,  he  obeyed  the  summons.  He  found  on  his  arrival 
that  a  letter  had  just  been  dispatched  recalling  him  on 


SORROW  AND   CONSOLATION.  81 

account  of  the  illness  of  our  father,  who  was  again  suffer- 
ing from  a  cancer,  which  had  been  operated  upon  the 
preceding  summer,  and,  as  was  supposed,  cured,  but 
had  broken  out  in  more  malignant  form.  From  this 
time  —  January  12,  1859  —  he  devoted  himself  to  the 
care  of  our  suffering  parent,  speaking,  a  portion  of  the 
Sabbaths,  at  places  within  a  day's  journey  of  home,  — 
Albion,  Jackson,  &c,  —  until  May  1,  and  after  that  re- 
mainingathome  entirely,  until,  on  the  24th,  death  came  to 
relieve  the  sufferer.  Our  father's  last  days  were  illu- 
mined by  spirit  presence  and  recognition;  and  it  was 
a  source  of  great  pleasure  to  him,  that  his  son  could  also 
see  those  who  waited  to  receive  his  freed  spirit. 

Extract  from  Journal,  June  1,  1859. 

"  In  our  bereavement  we  find  in  the  Spiritual  Philos- 
ophy a  holy  and  real  consolation.  How  much  more 
beautiful  than  the  cold  materialism  of  the  world,  or  the 
superstition  of  the  church,  come  the  sweet  tones  of  the 
angel  band,  to  cheer  the  earthly  mourner  when  death 
takes  the  loved  ones  from  our  outer  vision.  I  have  been 
blessed  with  seeing  my  father!  O,  the  deep,  soul- 
thrilling  joy  of  spirit  vision !  For  years  it  has  been  dear 
to  my  soul ;  but  it  is  immeasurably  dearer  now  that  I 
have  this  new  tie  to  bind  me  to  the  higher  life.  When 
music's  soft  notes  fill  the  air,  angel  voices  mingle  with 
the  song  and  prolong  the  sweet  melody.  By  day  and 
night,  in  sorrow  and  in  joy,  I  feel  the  presence  of  spirits 
immortal,  among  whom  now  stands  my  beloved  father. 
O  that  all  might  behold  with  me  the  reality  of  spirit 
presence  and  communion !  Although  the  form  my 
father  once  wore  is  in  its  mother  earth,  I  know  the  im- 
mortal spirit  still  lives ;  that,  though  death  may  prostrate 
6 


82  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

the  body,  and  time  cause  it  to  mingle  with  its  kindred 
elements,  the  soul,  the  real  man,  eternal  in  its  essence, 
shall  exist  eternally,  and  not  only  live,  but  love  and 
grow  in  knowledge,  power,  and  happiness  through  un- 
ending progress.'* 

The  above  allusion  to  angel  voices  refers  not  only  to 
the  general  fact,  that  he  often  heard  them,  but  also  to 
the  particular  circumstance,  that,  on  the  evening  when 
we  last  sang  together  beside  our  father's  bed,  the  voices 
of  unseen  singers  blended  with  ours  and  were  distinctly 
audible  to  us  all. 

Desiring  to  remain  with  us  as  much  as  possible,  and 
still  continue  his  public  labors,  my  brother  gave  no  time 
to  idle  sorrow,  or  even  to  needed  rest  of  mind  and  body, 
but,  June  1,  entered  upon  a  three  months'  engagement  at 
Lyons,  Mich.,  which  place  was  at  that  time  the  residence 
of  Colonel  D.  M.  Fox,  in  whose  family  he  was  hospitably 
entertained.  The  only  event  of  account  that  occurred 
there  was  a  correspondence  with  a  Methodist  minister, 
the  Rev.  R.  Sapp,  which  arose  from  an  anonymous  letter 
of  the  latter  to  the  "Ionia  Gazette,"  in  which  paper 
the  reply  and  consequent  rejoinders  were  also  published. 


ENGAGEMENTS.  83 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

A  TRIP  BEGUN  WITH  STRANGE  EXPERIENCES,  AND 
PREMATURELY  ENDED.  —  THE  REVENGE  OF  OUT- 
RAGED NATURE.  —  THE  DEATH-TRANCE  AND  WEARY 
JOURNEY  HOME.  —  CONVALESCENCE.  —  DEBUT  AS  AN 
AUTHOR. 

On  the  last  of  September,  he  started  out  on  what  he 
intended  should  be  a  long  tour,  as  he  had  engagements 
in  the  East  and  South  reaching  to  the  following  spring. 
That  this  expectation  was  not  fulfilled  will  appear  in 
due  time.  The  very  outset  of  his  journey  was  marked 
by  a  curious  adventure,  of  which  the  following  is  a 
brief  account:  — 

Journal. 

44 1  started  from  home  late  in  the  afternoon  to  walk 
to  the  station  —  nearly  five  miles  distant  —  in  time  for 
the  evening  train.  It  had  been  a  beautiful  day,  but 
when  I  had  gone  about  half  the  distance,  heavy  clouds 
suddenly  gathered  in  the  sky.  It  began  to  rain,  and 
grew  dark  as  pitch.  I  was  obliged  to  go  entirely  by 
sense  of  feeling,  until  there  arose  before  me  —  out  of 
the  ground  apparently  —  a  pale  blue  light,  about  the 
size  of  a  common  lantern.  It  lighted  a  place  large 
enough  for  me  to  walk,  and  kept  the  same  distance  in 
advance  till  I  got  to  Napoleon  Village,  then  burst  and 
disappeared.  I  was  still  half  a  mile  from  the  station. 
*  What  shall  I  do  ?  '  thought  I,  4  without  my  spirit  Ian- 


84  BIO GRAPH T  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

tern.'  A  voice  answered,  '  You  will  see  in  due  time.' 
The  next  I  knew,  I  was  standing  on  the  railroad,  about 
two  rods  from  the  depot  door.  I  went  in,  and  discov- 
ered, to  my  astonishment,  that  I  was  not  wet,  except 
the  outside  of  my  boots  and  bottoms  of  my  pants,  and 
that  I  had  traversed  the  entire  distance  in  five  minutes 
less  than  an  hour.  I  did  not  feel  any  inconvenience 
from  weariness,  and  took  no  cold." 

His  first  point  was  Willimantic,  Conn.  He  filled  his 
engagements  there  and  at  Providence,  speaking  also, 
week  evenings,  at  Pawtucket  and  Spragueville.  But 
the  trials  and  fatigues  of  the  last  few  months  had  worn 
upon  him  heavily,  and  a  cold  taken  in  Providence 
opened  the  way  for  disease  to  attack  the  feebly  garri- 
soned citadel  of  life.  Still  he  struggled  to  keep  up, 
and  entered  upon  an  engagement  at  Putnam,  Conn., 
the  first  Sunday  of  November.  On  the  succeeding 
Tuesday  he  was  taken  very  sick  with  congestion  of  the 
lungs,  and  the  following  night,  to  all  appearance,  died. 
Until  almost  morning  he  lay  in  a  death-like  trance,  but 
not  unconscious,  as  it  seemed.  Of  his  sensations  he 
says,  — 

Journal. 

"  I  was  a  spirit  with  immortal  beings.  I  could  see 
my  body  as  it  lay  upon  the  bed,  cold  and  lifeless.  I 
thought  of  my  mother  and  sister  at  home,  dependent 
upon  me  ;  of  their  deep  sorrow  when  they  should  hear 
of  my  departure.  The  spirits  around  me  were  con- 
versing together.  Some  said,  i  Let  him  stay  with  us ! ' 
Others  said,  4  No  !  let  him  go  back  to  earth  and  fulfill 
his  destiny.'  Then  my  guardian  spirit  said,  4  He  shall 
return  to  earth.'     I  recognized,  among  those  around, 


sicifAr£SS.  85 

the  tall  Indian  chief, — one  of  the  first  four  spirits 
who  appeared  to  me,  —  and  a  number  of  others  whom 
I  knew ;  but  soon  one  approached  whom  I  had  never 
seen,  —  a  man  of  venerable  and  majestic  aspect.  He 
was  attended  by  a  numerous  company  of  spirits,  and 
eagerly  greeted,  as  if  expected,  with  the  request,  '  Aid 
us  to  restore  to  earth  this  wandering  mortal.'  I  saw  a 
green  and  yellow  light  fall  upon  my  dead  body,  and  I 
knew  no  more  till  I  awoke  in  the  form.  I  was  cold 
and  stiff,  and  could  not  move  for  a  long  time ;  but 
gradually  warmth  and  feeling  returned,  and  the  next 
day  I  arose  and  told  the  astonished  friends  that  I  was 
going  home.  They  said  I  could  not  possibly  live  to  get 
there,  and,  indeed,  gave  me  no  hope  of  recovery  if  I 
remained.  I  knew  I  must  go;  so  I  coolly  replied, 
4  Well,  I  won't  die  here,'  and  started  on  Thursday 
morning.  I  arrived  at  Niagara  Falls  Friday,  where  I 
found  my  old  friend,  Judge  Manchester,  —  formerly  of 
Providence,  —  and  in  his  excellent  family  rested  until 
Monday.  Then,  though  even  more  feeble,  and  against 
the  wishes  of  my  kind  host,  I  continued  my  journey, 
and  reached  home  the  Tuesday  following,  more  dead 
than  alive." 

For  weeks  life  and  death  hung  trembling  in  the  bal- 
ance, and  when  at  length  the  crisis  was  passed,  and  he 
began  to  recover,  the  most  sanguine  of  our  mundane 
physicians  foreboded  that  he  would  never  be  able  to 
resume  his  public  labors.  But  his  angel  guides  said, 
"Hope  for  the  best;"  and,  thanks  to  their  care  and 
advice,  that  hope  was  fulfilled. 

During  the  winter,  while  still  confined  to  the  house, 
he  prepared  for  publication  a  pamphlet  of  about  one 


86  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

hundred  pages,  entitled  "  Religion  and  Morality :  a 
Criticism  upon  the  Character  of  the  Jewish  Jehovah, 
the  Patriarchs,  Prophets,  Early  Church  Fathers,  Popes, 
Cardinals,  Priests,  and  Leading  Men  of  Catholic  and 
Protestant  Churches,  with  a  Defense  of  Spiritual- 
ism ;  "  and,  as  the  title  indicates,  was  an  expose  of  the 
absurdity  and  weakness  of  the  wholesale  charges  of 
immorality  preferred  against  Spiritualists  and  mediums, 
—  and  ascribed  to  their  belief,  —  by  the  representatives 
of  the  popular  theology,  which  reverences  men  as  par- 
ticularly chosen  of  God,  whose  practices  would  be  con- 
sidered, in  any  other  persons,  as  highly  immoral  and 
reprehensible.  It  showed  from  statistics  that  there  was 
less  crime  among  the  Spiritualists  than  any  denomina- 
tion, in  proportion  to  numbers,  and  that  their  teachings 
necessarily  inculcate  and  foster  the  highest  morality  by 
declaring  that  virtue  is  the  only  path  to  happiness  here 
or  hereafter,  that  vice  brings  its  inevitable  penalty.  It 
admonished  certain  reverend  claimants  of  extra  moral- 
ity, that  if  the  derelictions  of  individuals  were  to  be 
charged  upon  the  form  of  religion  which  they  advo- 
cated, the  result  would  be  far  more  damaging  to  their 
claims  than  to  those  upon  whom  they  sought  to  throw 
disgrace  and  opprobrium.  The  work  had  a  large  sale 
at  the  time,  but  has  now  been  out  of  print  some  time. 
He  intended  to  have  prepared  a  revised  and  enlarged 
edition  for  republication ;  but  other  occupations  pre- 
vented him  from  carrying  out  that  intention,  though  he 
had  carefully  collected  data  for  the  purpose. 


THE  NEW  SPIRIT  GUIDE.  87 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE  NEW  SPIRIT  GUIDE.  —  THE  TWO  PORTRAITS. — 
REMOVAL  TO  ALBION.  — EARLY  ACQUAINTANCE  WITH 
DR.  SLADE.  —  DEBATE  WITH  REV.  JOSEPH  JONES  AT 
DECATUR,  MICH.  —  KENTUCKY  IN  WAR  TIME  (SEP- 
TEMBER, 1861).  —  LEGALLY  ORDAINED,   JULY,   1862. 

The  book  was  published  in  March,  1860,  and  he 
began  gradually  to  resume  lecturing,  speaking  only- 
Sundays,  and  in  places  within  easy  distance  of  home ; 
Port  Huron,  Jackson,  Albion,  Kalamazoo,  &c.  In  April, 
having  disposed  of  the  Brooklyn  homestead,  he  re- 
moved with  mother  and  sister  to  a  pleasant  place  in 
Albion,  which  was  his  home  for  the  remainder  of  his 
earth  life. 

The  venerable  spirit,  spoken  of  in  the  preceding 
chapter  as  first  seen  by  him  on  the  night  of  his  death 
trance  at  Putnam,  Conn.,  continued  to  visit  him,  and 
at  times  would  control  him  to  tell  perfect  strangers 
their  history  past  and  present,  and  to  a  great  extent 
the  future  also,  giving  sometimes  important  advice, 
which,  when  followed,  invariably  accomplished  the  re- 
sult foretold.  Many  whom  his  clear  sight  has  relieved 
from  danger  or  difficulty,  in  different  parts  of  the 
country,  during  the  last  twelve  years,  will  remember 
with  gratitude  the  "  Old  Man."  This  was  the  name 
by  which  he  was  known,  at  his  own  request,  as,  his  real 
name  was  difficult  of  pronunciation.     He  was  an  Egyp- 


88  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

tian  by  birth,  educated  in  Persia  in  all  the  learning  of 
the  Magi,  was  versed  in  the  mysteries  of  spirit  commu- 
nion, and  hence  called  by  the  church  a  magician,  and 
on  one  of  his  visits  to  Rome  was  imprisoned  by  the 
command  of  the  reigning  pope,  and  doomed  to  the 
flames,  for  dealing  in  magic  and  forbidden  arts.  But 
the  powerful  spirits  that  surrounded  him  opened  his 
prison  doors,  and  he  escaped  to  Persia,  where  he  de- 
parted this  life  at  the  age  of  one  hundred  and  twenty. 
He  is  known  to  history  as  "  The  Old  Man  of  the  Moun- 
tain "  —  the  last  chief  of  that  title ;  but  his  history  is 
little  known,  and  what  has  been  preserved  is  distorted 
by  the  pens  of  his  enemies  —  the  church  historians. 
He  lived  on  earth  in  the  twelfth  century  and  beginning 
of  the  thirteenth.  He  spoke  and  wrote,  not  only  Egyp- 
tian and  Persian,  but  Arabic,  Greek,  Latin,  and  Old 
French.  He  spoke  English  quite  imperfectly  at  first, 
and  always  with  a  peculiar  guttural  accent,  and  never 
wrote  it.  He  often  made  himself  visible,  not  only  to 
mediums,  but  to  those  who  never  saw  any  other  spirit. 
Of  his  power  of  reading  persons,  he  said,  "  I  can  read 
their  past  and  present  like  an  open  book,  and  from  the 
tendencies  and  circumstances  there  revealed,  the  char- 
acter of  the  person,  and  other  data  and  relations,  I  can 
forecast  the  future  much  as  you  would  calculate  and 
solve  a  mathematical  problem,  and  with  the  same  accu- 
racy. I  do  not  claim  infallibility.  An  error  may  occur 
in  the  figures  of  the  most  practiced  mathematician ;  so 
there  may  in  mine,  but  with  about  the  same  infrequen- 
cy.  I  never  say  anything  positively  of  which  I  am  not 
as  certain  as  I  am  that  4  figures  cannot  lie.'  " 

The  preceding  year  my  brother  had  obtained,  through 
the  mediumship  of  W.  P.  Anderson,  the  spirit  artist,  a 


THE   TWO  PORTRAITS.  89 

finely-executed  portrait  of  his  Italian  guide,  Farini.  It 
was  drawn  in  the  city  of  Jackson,  and  completed  in  two 
hours,  though  the  work  is  elaborate,  and  includes  con- 
siderable vine-work,  aside  from  the  head,  and  has  won 
merited  admiration  from  all  classes  of  people,  including 
artists  and  connoisseurs  of  no  mean  pretensions. 

Now  he  desired  greatly  to  obtain  also  a  picture  of 
the  "Old  Man;"  and  the  latter  said,  "I  will  go  and 
sit  for  my  portrait  on  such  a  day."  My  brother  ac- 
cordingly wrote  to  Mr.  Anderson,  that  on  a  certain  day, 
a  spirit  (not  saying  who)  was  to  sit  for  a  portrait  for 
him,  and  to  forward  the  result,  if  any  were  obtained. 
Mr.  Anderson  was  then  at  La  Salle,  111.  The  appointed 
day  passed,  and  the  spirit  reported  that  the  sitting  had 
taken  place,  and  a  good  likeness  was  obtained,  but  not 
so  nicely  finished  as  Farini's.  In  due  course  of  mail 
the  picture  came,  and  was  exactly  as  described. 

About  the  time  of  our  removal  to  Albion,  a  literary 
association  there  was  debating  the  subject  of  the  Origin 
of  Man  and  Unity  of  the  Races,  and  considerable  inter- 
est had  been  aroused  in  the  community  by  the  partici- 
pation of  several  of  the  college  faculty  and  other  well- 
read  men.  My  brother  was  induced  to  take  part  in 
the  discussion,  which  continued  several  evenings,  and 
evoked  much  thought  upon  subjects  usually  not  much 
regarded  by  the  masses.  In  the  month  of  April  he 
returned  to  Chicago  to  lecture,  after  an  interval  of 
nearly  three  years,  dedicated  a  new  hall  for  the  society, 
and  spoke  five  Sundays,  and,  consequently,  was  in  the 
city  during  the  session  of  the  Republican  Convention, 
which  he  looked  in  upon,  and  chanced  to  be  present 
when  the  name  of  Abraham  Lincoln  was  put  in  nomi- 
nation  for  the   presidency.     He   spent  the  month  of 


90  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.    B.    WHITING. 

June  in  Port  Huron,  St.  Clair,  and  Kalamazoo,  and  on 
his  return  home  met,  for  the  first  time,  Mr.  J.  G.  Fish, 
formerly  a  Baptist  clergyman,  but  then  a  Spiritualist 
lecturer,  and  since  widely  known  in  that  capacity. 
Next  he  attended  a  grove  meeting  near  Eaton  Rapids, 
in  connection  with  two  other  speakers  —  Rev.  A.  W. 
Mason,  of  Pulaski,  a  progressed  Universalist,  and  W. 
F.  Jamieson.  The  remainder  of  the  year  1860  he 
spent  mostly  in  Michigan,  the  only  exception  being  a 
short  trip,  by  way  of  St.  Joseph,  to  Chicago,  La  Salle, 
and  Dixon,  111.,  and  Davenport,  Iowa,  lecturing  nearly 
every  Sunday,  and  occasionally  on  week  evenings, 
though  in  this  he  was  somewhat  cautious,  in  view  of 
the  sickness  brought  about  by  over-exertion  the  previ- 
ous year.  During  this  time,  and  more  or  less  subse- 
quently, he  was  engaged  in  assisting  certain  parties  in 
important  business  transactions,  which,  by  the  advice 
of  the  u  Old  Man,"  were  brought  to  a  successful  issue, 
while  many  other  persons  received  from  him  advice  in 
matters  of  personal  moment,  which  was  the  means  of 
rescuing  them  from  situations  of  great  difficulty,  and 
even  danger.  In  this  connection  occurred  some  of  the 
most  absolute  proofs  of  the  beneficent  intervention  of 
supramundane  intelligence  that  can  be  imagined ;  and 
if  the  seal  of  private  confidence  did  not  forbid,  I  could, 
in  these  facts  alone,  spread  upon  these  pages  an  ample 
answer  to  the  question,  "  What  good  has  Spiritualism 
done  ?  "  —  and  one  that  ought  to  silence  forever  all  the 
absurd  charges  of  "immoral  tendency,"  "breaking  up 
families,"  and  the  like,  that  have  been  the  staple  argu- 
ments of  the  opposing  world,  and  too  often  echoed  — 
parrot-like  —  by  those  who  might  know  better,  if  indeed 
they  do  not. 


DR.    SLAVE.  91 

At  the  time  of  which  I  write,  that  most  wonderful  of 
mediums,  Dr.  Slade,  of  New  York,  resided  in  Albion, 
and  in  his  presence  remarkable  demonstrations  of  spirit 
power  were  obtained,  which  were  justly  considered  to 
be  conclusive,  as  evidence  of  spirit  existence  and  com- 
munion, although  the  two  later  phases  of  his  medium- 
ship —  independent  writing  and  visible  appearances  — 
had  not  yet  been  developed.  The  marked  feature  of 
the  tests  given  in  his  presence  was  then,  as  now,  the 
circumstance  that  all  took  place  in  the  light,  whether  it 
was  the  levitation  of  ponderable  objects,  or  of  the  medi- 
um himself ;  or,  as  sometimes  occurred,  the  bringing  of 
articles  from  a  distance  —  such  as  geological  specimens. 
In  one  instance  a  ring,  which  had  been  lost  in  Canada, 
was  brought  to  the  residence  of  Dr.  Slade,  in  Albion, 
in  the  presence  of  a  large  company,  whom  "  Owasso  " 
had  invited  to  witness  the  fulfillment  of  his  promise. 
My  brother  was  often  present  at  these  seances. 

Among  other  pleasing  incidents  of  the  time  just 
passed  over  may  be  mentioned  the  dedication  of  Mer- 
rill Hall,  Detroit,  to  the  use  of  Spiritualists,  where  he 
had  the  pleasure  of  assisting  Mrs.  Hardinge  in  the  exer- 
cises of  the  occasion,  and  his  meeting  with  E.  V.  Wil- 
son and  Miss  Ada  Hoyt,  in  Chicago.  At  the  latter 
place  he  met  with  an  accident  which  might  have  proved 
serious  had  there  been  no  power  to  save.  Of  this  he 
says,  in  his  journal,  "  In  going  to  the  depot,  I  slipped 
and  fell  down  a  flight  of  steps  upon  the  stone  pave- 
ment ;  but  the  *  Old  Man '  caught  me,  so  I  only  struck 
lightly  on  one  knee ;  and  all  the  harm  I  got  was  a  little 
skin  bruise,  instead  of  a  broken  limb,  as  seemed  inevi- 
table. People  looked  astonished  to  see  me  walk  away 
unhurt,  and,  doubtless,  thought  it  a  providential  escape, 


92  BIOGRAPHT  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

as  indeed  it  was,  though  they  could  not  behold  the 
helping  hand." 

In  January,  1861,  he  made  his  first  trip  to  Kentucky  ; 
and  connected  with  this  was  a  striking  and  useful  test 
of  the  ability  of  spirits  to  transport  intelligence  in 
advance  of  the  mail.  He  had  written  his  Louisville 
correspondent  that  he  would  be  there  January  24,  if 
desired,  and  to  write  immediately.  He  received  no 
answer ;  but  the  "  Old  Man  "  said  they  had  written  for 
him  to  come,  and  would  be  disappointed  if  he  did  not. 
On  the  strength  of  that  assurance  alone,  he  started  on 
a  journey  of  three  hundred  miles,  and  found  the  infor- 
mation true  to  the  letter.  But  more  than  this,  Dr. 
Slade  was  then  in  Louisville,  and  his  Indian  guide, 
Owasso,  told  them  that  Whiting  was  on  his  way  and 
would  arrive  that  night,  but  had  not  received  the  letter. 

He  lectured  several  times  in  Louisville  with  good 
success,  then  went  to  Frankfort  and  delivered  two 
lectures  on  Spiritualism,  after  which  a  committee  waited 
on  him  with  an  invitation  to  speak  before  the  legisla- 
ture, upon  the  "State  of  the  Country."  This  he  did 
to  a  crowded  house  and  general  satisfaction.  He  also 
lectured  several  times  at  New  Albany,  Ind.,  on  his  re- 
turn. Among  many  pleasant  acquaintances  at  Louis- 
ville was  numbered  the  veteran  journalist,  George  D. 
Prentice.  The  next  noticeable  event  was  a  debate, 
held  at  Decatur,  Mich.,  with  a  Methodist  clergyman,  — 
Rev.  Joseph  Jones,  —  upon  the  question,  "  Resolved, 
That  the  origin  of  modern  spiritual  phenomena  is  en- 
tirely hypothetical,  and  therefore  the  revelations  from 
that  source  are  not  at  all  reliable."  At  the  desire  of 
Mr.  Jones  the  Bible  was  excluded  from  the  discussion. 
The  debate  continued  through  three  days,  March  12, 


EXTRACT  FROM  JOURNAL.  93 

13,  and  14,  and  was  listened  to  by  large  audiences,  and 
afterward  published  in  pamphlet  form,  having  been 
reported  for  that  purpose  by  a  competent  person.  The 
latter  part  of  March  was  spent  in  St.  Charles,  111.,  and 
the  month  of  April  in  Rockford,  where  he  was  at  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war,  which  he  deeply  deplored  in 
common  with  all  who  were  sufficiently  thoughtful  to 
realize  its  nature  and  foresee  its  terrible  character  and 
devastating  effects.  On  the  ensuing  4th  of  July  he 
made  this  entry  in  his  journal :  — 

"  This  is  the  gloomiest  4th  of  July  I  ever  spent. 
There  is  a  so-called  celebration  here.  What  a  solemn 
mockery !  We  have  no  Union,  and  yet  they  have  a 
farcical  representation  of  thirty-four  states,  and  an  ora- 
tion consisting  of  fulsome  praise  of  Christianity,  with 
a  bloodthirsty  finale.  That  is  the  present  style  of 
preaching  '  peace  on  earth,  good  will  to  men.'  .  .  . 
I  hope  the  present  Congress,  convened  to-day,  will  do 
something  for  peace.  I  wish  to  see  the  Union  preserved. 
If  it  is,  it  will  be  through  the  Union  element  at  the 
South.  If  there  is  no  such  element  they  can  never  be 
subjugated.  I  regret  to  see  the  disposition,  on  the 
part  of  a  large  body  of  extremists,  to  accumulate  pow- 
er in  the  hands  of  the  central  government  to  an  extent 
incompatible  with  the  genius  of  free  institutions,  —  to 
rule  by  the  sword ;  a  scheme  which,  if  successful,  can 
not  fail  to  work  the  subversion  of  all  civil  liberty. 
Would  that  all  might  feel  a  true  love  for  their  country 
at  this  terrible  and  gloomy  hour  !  " 

In  the  ensuing  September,  having  leisure  time,  he 
resolved  to  visit  the  scene  of  hostilities  in  Kentucky, 
and  see  for  himself  the  aspect  of  affairs  of  which  so 
many  contradictory  reports  were  received.     He  found 


94  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

all  excitement  in  Louisville,  in  expectation  of  the  ap- 
proach of  General  Buckner  with  his  army,  to  take  pos- 
session of  the  city ;  but  the  cars  ran  off  the  track,  and 
left  them  sixty  miles  away,  and  they  were  obliged  to 
retreat.  As  soon  as  this  news  was  received,  compara- 
tive quiet  was  restored  to  Louisville,  though  war  regu- 
lations were  enforced  to  a  certain  extent,  and  troops 
were  pressed  forward  with  all  possible  dispatch.  He 
found  much  division  in  public  sentiment,  extending  even 
to  families  —  parent  arrayed  against  child,  and  brother 
against  brother,  —  a  state  of  things  that  brought  home  to 
the  heart  most  forcibly  the  horrors  of  civil  war.  Gen- 
eral Sherman  showed  him  every  attention,  both  there 
and  at  the  federal  camp  at  Nolin,  where  there  were, 
at  that  time,  forty  thousand  troops  ;  and  as  his  railroad 
friends  furnished  him  free  passes  over  all  the  routes,  he 
had  ample  opportunity  to  examine  for  himself  the  situ- 
ation, in  all  its  dreary  aspect.  He  visited  all  the  points 
of  interest,  including  the  secession  camp,  in  Owen 
County.  He  found  many  friends  in  both  armies,  and 
he  held  their  confidence  equally  inviolate,  as  he  was 
laying  up  in  his  mind  matter  for  future  reference,  for 
his  own  information  and  instruction,  and  not  for  the 
use  or  abuse  of  any  other  person  or  party. 

After  his  return  from  this  tour,  he  spent  the  rest  of 
the  fall  and  winter  in  comparative  quiet,  only  lecturing 
occasionally  at  various  points  in  this  state  and  at  Tole- 
do, O.  The  last  of  March,  1862,  he  started  on  a  trip 
to  Detroit  and  Port  Huron,  which  was  extended  to 
London  and  Sparta,  C.  W.  Of  this  I  shall  give  his  own 
account. 


DEBATE  ON  SPIRITUALISM.  95 

Extract  from  Journal, 
"  At  Detroit  I  heard  the  Rev.  Father  Smarius,  the 
great  Jesuit  priest,  lecture  against  Spiritualism.  His 
lecture  was  able,  but  full  of  misrepresentations  and  rid- 
icule, though  not  as  abusive  as  the  generality  of  Protes- 
tant lectures  upon  the  same  subject.  He  declined  to 
debate  the  subject  at  my  invitation,  and  evidently  did 
not  wish  to  meet  a  Spiritualist  on  a  free  platform,  al- 
though he  is  willing  to  meet  Protestants  in  argument. 
I  next  went  to  Port  Huron  and  delivered  a  course  of 
lectures.  The  friends  at  London  sent  out  a  man  for 
me  to  go  there  and  meet  a  Methodist  minister,  who  was 
battling  Spiritualism.  I  always  like  to  attend  to  all 
such  cases ;  so  I  went,  and  arrived  in  time  to  hear  the 
Rev.  James  Scott  lecture  against  Spiritualism,  before  a 
society  called  ■  The  Young  Men's  Christian  Union.' 
There  were  but  two  or  three  persons  in  the  house  who 
knew  of  my  presence.  When  the  reverend  gentleman 
had  concluded,  it  was  announced  that  the  subject  was 
open  to  debate  in  ten  minute  speeches,  and  a  member 
arose  and  said  that  there  was  a  stranger  present  who 
would,  if  invited,  make  a  few  remarks.  The  president 
assented ;  so  I  gave  them  ten  minutes'  worth  of  Spiritu- 
alism. Then  another  reverend  got  up  and  said  a  few 
words,  and  the  meeting  adjourned  in  a  hurry.  There- 
upon my  friends  blackguarded  them  so  for  showing  the 
white  feather,  that  Scott  finally  agreed  to  meet  me  in 
debate,  the  platform,  rules,  &c,  to  be  decided  upon  by 
a  joint  committee  of  three  of  my  friends  and  three  of 
his.  They  met,  but  could  not  agree.  Then  several 
letters  passed  between  us,  but  to  no  purpose.  I  went 
to  Sparta  and  gave  three  lectures,  and  on  my  return 
Scott  sent  in  a  proposition  as  follows  :  4  Resolved,  That 


96  BIOGRAPHT  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

modern  Spiritualism  is  a  delusion,  and  contrary  to,  and 
not  in  accordance  with,  the  Scriptures.'  My  friends 
immediately  accepted  in  my  name,  and  called  the  joint 
committee  to  arrange  rules  of  debate,  when  they  backed 
square  down  on  their  own  proposition.  Before  I  left 
London  I  sent.  Mr.  Scott  a  letter,  in  which  I  told  him  I 
would  debate  with  him  any  time  when  he  got  ready,  if 
that  time  ever  came.  I  had  an  excellent  time  ;  gave 
three  lectures  to  full  houses.  The  mayor  of  the  city 
presided  at  my  meetings,  and  took  an  active  interest  in 
all  the  proceedings.  I  had  a  good  time  also  at  Sparta, 
where  Messrs.  Harvey,  Reynolds,  and  Pace  are  active 
members,  not  to  forget  old  General  McCleod,  whose 
stories  of  his  campaigns  under  Wellington,  and  during 
the  patent  war  in  Canada,  were  to  me  full  of  interest. 
On  my  return  home,  I  paid  Dr.  Slade  a  visit  at  Jack- 
son ;  found  him  well  located  and  doing  a  thriving 
business." 

The  July  following,  he  received  from  the  Religio- 
Philosophical  Society  of  St.  Charles,  111.,  a  certificate  of 
ordination  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  with  authority 
to  solemnize  marriages,  &c,  which  placed  him  upon 
terms  of  legal  equality  with  the  clergy  of  all  denomina- 
tions. 

I  believe  his  was  among  the  earliest  regular  ordina- 
tions made  by  a  Spiritualist  society,  though  not  many 
years  later  many  lecturers  were  recipients  of  similar 
certificates.  But  the  legally  organized  societies  were 
then  very  few  compared  to  the  present  number,  and 
hence  few  had  authority  to  confer  ordination. 


A    COMPOSER   OF  MUSIC.  97 


CHAPTER  X. 

AS  A  COMPOSER  OF  MUSIC.  —  PUBLICATION  OF  THE 
FIRST  EIGHT  OF  HIS  SONGS.  —  DEBATE  WITH  AN 
ADVENTIST  AT  GRAND  RAPIDS,  MICH.  —  EASTWARD 
AGAIN  (MARCH,    1864).  —  SPIRIT  PICTURES. 

The  remainder  of  the  year  1862  was  marked  by  no 
event  of  especial  importance  to  this  narrative.  The  war 
absorbed  the  attention  of  the  people  to  the  exclusion  of 
all  other  interests,  so  that  the  demand  for  lectures  upon 
any  other  theme  was  greatly  decreased,  and  many  speak- 
ers in  the  spiritualistic  ranks  were  driven  temporarily, 
and  some  permanently,  to  other  pursuits. 

My  brother  became  interested  with  a  friend  in  the 
boot  and  shoe  business  in  Albion,  —  a  branch  of  trade 
of  which  he  had  some  knowledge,  from  our  father  hav- 
ing formerly  been  engaged  in  it,  —  but  he  never  aban- 
doned the  lecture  field,  and  during  the  most  of  this  time 
and  the  ensuing  year  had  regular  Sunday  appointments 
at  places  where  he  could  go  on  Saturday  and  return  on 
Monday,  spending  the  rest  of  the  week  in  the  store  in 
the  busy  season,  unless  called  away  to  attend  funerals, 
as  was  often  the  case.  This  was  a  summons  which  he 
always  dreaded,  but  never  refused.  His  leisure  time 
he  devoted  to  music,  which  was  always,  to  him,  recrea- 
tion and  delight.  He  had  composed  some  previously, 
but  had  taken  no  pains  to  write  out  and  preserve  his 
pieces.  Now  he  gave  more  attention  in  that  direction, 
7 


98  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

and  in  1863  were  composed  several  of  the  songs  after- 
ward published;  among  them  "LenaDe  Lorme,"  and 
"The  Land  of  the  so-called  Dead."  His  method  of 
composing  was  somewhat  peculiar.  He  almost  always 
composed  words  and  music  simultaneously,  playing  and 
singing  the  piece  until  complete,  then  writing  out  the 
words ;  while  the  music  was  not,  perhaps,  written  until 
required  for  publication.  Then  it  became  my  task  to 
write  out  and  prepare  it  for  the  press.  He  never  in  but 
two  instances  adapted  music  to  words  already  prepared, 
but  occasionally  composed  music  first,  and  words  after- 
ward. In  the  summer  of  1863,  he  had  built  expressly 
for  him,  at  the  manufactory  at  Kalamazoo,  a  large  piano- 
cased,  six  octave  melodeon,  which  instrument  he  always 
preferred  to  a  piano  as  an  accompaniment  to  the  voice. 
The  melodeon  was  sent  home  in  September,  and  so  per- 
fect was  its  construction  and  toning  that  it  remains  in 
perfect  order  and  tune  after  a  lapse  of  nearly  nine 
years. 

In  October,  he  again  visited  Kentucky,  but  did  not 
lecture,  his  business  being  to  bring  me  home  from  Louis- 
ville,—  where  I  had  been  spending  some  time  with 
friends,  —  and  to  take  an  observation  of  things  in  gen- 
eral. 

He  next  filled  a  month's  engagement  at  Grand  Rapids, 
Michigan,  and  during  the  following  month,  December, 
held  a  debate  at  that  place  with  an  Adventist  preacher 
of  some  note,  Rev.  J.  M.  Stephenson.  The  question 
discussed  was  that,  "  The  Bible,  reason,  and  philosophy 
teach  the  complete  and  entire  cessation  of  all  conscious- 
ness at  death,"  Mr.  Stephenson  arguing  in  the  affirma- 
tive, according  to  the  received  belief  of  his  sect.  The 
press  and  people  of  Grand  Rapids  were  much  interested 


DEBATE   ON  IMMORTALITY.  99 

in  the  discussion,  as  appears  from  the  following  brief 
quotations  from  the  city  papers :  — 

THE    IMIMORTALITY    OF    THE    SOUL,    OR   CONSCIOUS   EX- 
ISTENCE AFTER  DEATH. 

A  debate  on  the  above  question  will  be  held  at  Mills 
and  Clancy's  Hall,  commencing  on  Wednesday  evening 
next,  between  Rev.  J.  M.  Stephenson,  a  clergyman  of  the 
sect  known  as  Adventists,  and  A.  B.  Whiting,  the  well- 
known  advocate  of  the  Spiritual  Philosophy. 

Mr.  Stephenson  will  argue  that  "  The  Bible,  reason, 
and  philosophy  teach  the  complete  and  entire  cessation 
of  all  consciousness  at  death."  Mr.  Whiting  will  argue 
the  conscious  existence  of  the  soul  after  death. 

To  quite  a  large  class  of  our  citizens  this  debate  will 
be  possessed  of  much  interest  and  importance,  as  tend- 
ing, perhaps,  to  settle  doubts  or  establish  half-formed 
convictions,  and,  perhaps,  to  remove  errors  concerning 
the  subject  in  issue.  Others,  having  clearly-defended 
and  well-grounded  convictions  as  to  the  immortality  of 
the  soul,  will  be  repaid  for  attending  the  debate  by  wit- 
nessing the  novel  manner  in  which  the  issue  will  be 
presented  from  both  sides. 

The  debate  increases  in  interest  every  night.  It  is 
as  largely  attended  as  the  capacity  of  the  hall  will  per- 
mit. Both  disputants  being  talented,  they  are  enabled 
to  give  their  hearers  a  rich  intellectual  feast.  Judge 
Robinson  presides  at  the  debate  with  dignity  and  grace. 
It  is  being  conducted  with  the  greatest  propriety  and 
courtesy,  both  the  disputants  being  finished  gentle- 
men, who  seem  to  have  an  elevated  view  of  the  dignity 
of  oral  discussion  of  religious  or  kindred  subjects.  It  is 
a  noble  thing  to  behold  two  men  calmly,  yet  earnestly 


100  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

discussing  the  greatest  question  underlying  the  religions 
of  the  day.  None  but  moral  cowards  and  religious 
bigots  will  refuse  to  listen  to  a  discussion  of  so  impor- 
tant a  question.  For  such  there  is  no  room  at  Mills  and 
Clancy's  Hall  during  the  continuance  of  this  most  in- 
teresting debate. 

The  entire  debate  was  phonographically  reported 
by  W.  F.  Jamieson,  with  a  view  to  its  publication  in 
pamphlet  form;  but  Mr.  Stephenson  refused  his  con- 
sent, and  it  was  not  published.  I  regret  exceedingly 
that  the  report  was  not  written  out  and  preserved,  as  I 
believe  it  to  have  contained  a  rare  compendium  of  the 
proofs  of  immortality. 

The  last  of  December  he  again  visited  Louisville  on 
private  business,  one  item  of  which  was  to  arrange  for 
the  appearance  of  the  first  published  of  his  songs  — 
"  Lena  De  Lorme."  He  was  there  the  memorable  cold 
New  Year's  of  1864,  and  the  following  week  journeyed 
to  Decatur,  111.,  to  lecture  —  a  trip  not  only  seriously  un- 
comfortable under  the  circumstances,  but  also  rendered 
somewhat  dangerous  by  the  explosion  of  a  locomotive 
boiler.  In  the  spring  he  transferred  the  copyright  of 
his  published  song  to  the  publishing  house  of  H.  M. 
Higgins,  Chicago,  and  a  new  edition  was  issued,  togeth- 
er with  two  other  pieces,  "  Touch  the  lute  gently  "  and 
"By  the  side  of  the  murmuring  stream,' '  the  group 
bearing  the  title  "  Three  Heart-offerings." 

The  success  of  these  was  so  marked  and  encouraging 
as  to  justify,  later  in  the  same  year,  the  publication  of 
another  group  of  five  songs,  under  the  title  of  "  Spar- 
kling Gems."  These  comprised  "Adieu,  Leonore," 
"  Leoline,"  "  You  well  know  my  beloved,"  U  Land  of  the 


EASTERN  TOUR.  101 

so-called  dead,"  and  "Maid  of  Glenore,"  and  were 
equally  well  received.  The  lighter  pieces,  particularly 
"  Leoline,"  attained  to  considerable  popularity  in  the  par- 
lor and  concert-room,  —  being  sung  by  several  prom- 
inent concert  troupes  throughout  the  country,  —  while 
44  The  land  of  the  so-called  dead  "  gained  a  more  lasting 
reputation  in  the  lecture-room.  But  the  cultivation  of 
his  musical  gifts  were  incidental,  and  never  allowed  to 
interfere  with  the  business  of  his  life,  —  public  speaking, 
—  but  rather  added  a  grace  to  it,  as  he  frequently  sang 
at  the  close  of  his  lectures  an  appropriate  piece  of  his 
music. 

In  March,  1864,  he  started  on  an  eastern  tour,  spoke 
at  Cleveland,  and  went  thence  to  New  York  to  visit  and 
transact  some  business  relating  to  his  books  and  music ; 
was  informed  that  a  large  number  of  the  "Debate  "  had 
been  sold  for  shipment  to  France  and  England. 

He  lectured  during  April  in  Providence,  where,  among 
other  pleasing  incidents,  he  was  presented  with  a  beau- 
tiful little  scarf-pin,  made  from  an  antique  gold  chain, 
in  the  form  of  a  crescent  surmounted  by  a  star: 
upon  these  .were  embossed  four  crowns,  three  on 
the  crescent  and  one  on  the  star  —  all  of  which 
possessed  an  heraldic  significance  which  augmented 
its  value  in  his  eyes.  Any  one  who  heard  him  lec- 
ture during  the  last  seven  years  of  his  life  might 
have  noticed  the  glitter  of  this  peculiar  ornament  upon 
his  bosom.  He  attended  the  Spiritualist  Convention 
held  at  Clinton  Hall,  New  York,  the  11th,  12th,  and 
13th  of  May,  where  many  of  the  ablest  workers  in  the 
cause  were  gathered  in  council,  and  spent  the  Sundays 
of  that  month  at  Chicopee,  Mass.  There  he  had  a  little 
experience  in  the  then  comparatively  new  phenomena 


102  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.   WHITING. 

of  spirit  pictures,  concerning  which  I  will  give  an  ex- 
tract from  a  letter  written  home  by  him  at  the  time. 

Extract  from  Letter. 

"  I  was  sitting  for  an  ambrotype  here  the  other  day, 
and  a  beautiful  little  compass  appeared  on  the  plate, 
though  there  was  nothing  to  take  it  from.  I  sat  again 
another  day,  and  the  plate  was  covered  with  images, 
more  or  less  perfect,  and  two  small  faces,  one  in  profile 
and  quite  well  defined,  the  other  about  the  size  of  a  gold 
half  dollar,  immediately  above  my  head.  The  latter 
has  on  a  turban,  and  is  found  perfect  when  examined 
through  a  microscope.  Both  of  them  I  recognize  as 
members  of  the  band  of  Persian  spirits  who  accompany 
the  '  Old  Man.'  The  artist  is  a  young  man,  just  mar- 
ried, and  his  wife  and  relatives  are  all  opposed  to  Spir- 
itualism ;  but  these  phantom  pictures  have  haunted  him 
by  spells  for  over  a  year,  and  he  can't  get  rid  of  them. 
He  says  they  are  more  apt  to  come  for  mediums  than 
any  one  else.  He  has  a  beautiful  one  of  Miss  Lizzie 
Doten,  with  a  spirit  beside  her ;  and  the  Davenports 
have  one,  taken  here,  upon  which  the  fifth  hand  is  as 
plainly  visible  as  their  own." 

He  spoke  in  Springfield,  Mass.,  the  first  two  Sundays 
of  June,  and  then  returned  home. 


SPIRITUAL    CONVENTION.  103 


CHAPTER  XI. 

CHICAGO  SPIRITUAL  CONVENTION  OP  1864. — HIS  POSI- 
TION THEREIN. — POLITICAL  VIEWS. — LECTURES  LN 
CHICAGO  DURING  THE  SESSION  OF  THE  DEMOCRATIC 
NATIONAL   CONVENTION.  —  TRD?    THROUGH    CANADA. 

THE    CAMPAIGN    OP     1864.  —  FIRST    APPEARANCE 

IN  THE  POLITICAL  ARENA. — KENTUCKY  IN  NOVEM- 
BER.—  NOT  CAPTURED  BY  GUERRILLAS.  —  ABAN- 
DONED PROJECTS. 

Having  lectured  during  July  at  Grand  Rapids  and 
Lansing,  Mich.,  on  the  8th  of  August  he  proceeded 
to  Chicago  to  attend  the  first  "  National  Convention  of 
Spiritualists,"  which  had  been  called  to  convene  on  the 
9th,  "  for  the  purpose  of  deciding  upon  some  plan  of 
organization  or  associative  action."  His  first  move, 
on  reaching  the  city  and  taking  rooms  at  the  Sherman 
House,  was  to  have  an  interview  with  Mr.  Storey,  of 
the  "Chicago  Times,"  and  arrange  for  the  attendance 
of  first-class  reporters  on  behalf  of  that  paper,  thus 
securing  a  full  and  impartial  report  of  the  proceedings. 

He  had  not  contemplated  attending  the  convention 
up  to  within  a  short  time  of  its  assembling,  as  other  busi- 
ness demanded  his  attention,  so  that  he  could  only  do  so 
at  considerable  personal  loss  and  inconvenience.  But 
it  was  foretold  to  him  that  an  attempt  would  be  made, 
in  view  of  the  coming  election,  to  throw  the  weight  of 
the  convention  in  support  of  a  party,  by  the  introduc- 


104  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.  WHITING. 

tion  of  a  series  of  political  resolutions ;  that  a  contest 
would  ensue,  and,  if  the  resolutions  passed,  the  object 
of  the  convention  —  namely,  organization, — would  be 
defeated.  Deeply  interested  in  the  success  and  har- 
monious working  of  the  convention,  he  resolved  to  leave 
everything,  and  go,  and  do  what  he  could  to  promote 
that  object  by  aiding  to  prevent,  if  possible,  the  intro- 
duction of  extraneous  and  dividing  topics.  This  he 
had  some  hope  might  be  done  from  the  personal  assur- 
ances of  many,  who,  though  holding  adverse  political 
opinions,  agreed  with  him  in  thinking  it  necessary  that 
harmony  should  be  secured,  and  the  time  of  the  con- 
vention devoted  to  the  important  object  for  which  it  had 
been  called. 

Unfortunately,  this  hope  was  not  realized.  The 
majority,  carried  away  by  enthusiastic  loyalty  and  de- 
votion to  their  own  political  views,  decreed  the  recep- 
tion of  a  series  of  resolutions  on  the  state  of  the  country, 
containing  an  absolute  indorsal  of  the  war,  the  party  in 
power,  and  their  candidate  for  the  presidency.  The 
contest  being  thus  forced  upon  him,  he,  in  common  with 
others  of  different  views,  was  left  no  honorable  alterna- 
tive but  to  stand  up  as  firmly  in  defense  of  his  political 
as  he  ever  had  of  his  religious  principles.  From  this 
duty  he  did  not  shrink,  and,  although  the  majority  out- 
numbered the  minority  nearly  seven  to  one,  and  the 
galleries  were  filled  by  a  crowd  ready  to  hiss  down  the 
unpopular  side  of  the  question,  he  not  only  gained  a 
respectful  hearing,  but  won  the  admiration  of  his  bitter- 
est opponents  by  the  determined  manner  with  which  he 
quelled  an  incipient  clamor  in  the  crowd,  and  compelled 
their  attention.  One,  who  stood  opposed  to  him  then, 
describes  his  attitude  upon  that  occasion — when  he  de- 


POLITICAL   VIEWS.  105 

clared  that  he  would  be  heard  even  though  he  stood 
alone  —  to  have  been  one  of  the  finest  examples  of 
moral  heroism,  and  personal  power  to  command  an  au- 
dience, that  it  was  ever  his  fortune  to  witness.  It  may 
be  mentioned,  as  an  incident  eminently  characteristic  of 
the  man,  that,  after  the  conclusion  of  his  speech,  he 
took  occasion  to  make  his  way  among  that  portion  of 
the  audience  whence  the  attempted  disturbance  had 
arisen. 

The  resolutions  were  passed,  — a  minority  of  forty-four 
protesting,  and  in  an  ably  written  document  setting 
forth  their  reasons  for  dissent,  and  the  convention,  after 
much  discussion  on  organization  and  other  matters,  ad- 
journed, as  had  been  predicted,  without  having  accom- 
plished that  object.  He  much  regretted  this  result, 
although  he  had  expected  it.  He  saw  that  it  was  in- 
evitable under  the  circumstances,  and  could  only  hope 
for  better  harmony  at  some  future  time,  when  the  war 
spirit  should  be  laid.  He  was  deeply  pained  by  the 
bitter  spirit  displayed  by  a  portion  of  the  majority ;  for, 
while  he  conceded  to  all  an  absolute  right  to  their  own 
opinions  upon  political  or  any  other  subjects,  he  did  not 
recognize  the  right  of  any  to  force  those  opinions  upon 
a  body  of  persons  assembled  for  an  altogether  different 
purpose.  This  he  would  never  do  himself,  and  he  be- 
lieved such  a  course  one  that  no  majority  could  render 
either  just  or  profitable.  He  had  never  taken  any  active 
part  in  politics,  although,  as  was  well  known  to  his 
friends,  he  had  settled  convictions  on  those  subjects  as 
upon  most  others.  Those  views  coincided,  in  the  main, 
with  those  of  the  leading  democratic  statesmen  from 
the  time  of  Jefferson  down.  He  belonged  to  a  class  of 
thinkers  who  regarded  war  as  a  blot  upon  our  civiliza- 


106  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.  WHITING. 

tion,  and  the  encroachment  of  military  power  upon  in- 
dividual rights  as  subversive  of  civil  liberty  —  the  very 
foundation  of  free  institutions.  In  his  travels  in  the 
different  parts  of  the  country,  he  had  been  led  to  ob- 
serve that  the  differences  existing  between  distant  sec- 
tions arose  largely  from  misunderstanding  of  each 
other's  character  and  motives ;  and  hence  he  believed 
that,  by  conciliation  and  a  better  acquaintance,  those  dif- 
ferences might  be  reconciled,  and  their  causes  peaceably 
removed.  Holding  these  views,  he  deplored  the  fatal 
blindness  of  those  party  leaders,  who,  by  appeals  to 
passion  and  prejudice,  fomented  discord,  and,  finally, 
plunged  the  country  into  the  horrors  of  civil  war.  But 
while  he  condemned  their  action,  and  earnestly  desired 
the  unity  of  the  republic,  he  claimed  the  people's  con- 
stitutional right  to  criticise  the  acts  of  public  servants 
in  time  of  war,  as  in  time  of  peace.  He  could  not  in- 
dorse the  course  of  the  administration,  inasmuch  as  it 
seemed  to  him  in  many  respects  ill  calculated  to  pro- 
mote the  end  in  view,  namely,  the  speedy  restoration 
of  peace  and  union.  He  saw  with  apprehension  the 
growing  tendency  to  centralization  in  government,  and 
regarded  the  suspension  of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus  in 
peaceful  states,  and  the  arbitrary  arrest  and  imprison- 
ment of  their  citizens,  without  due  process  of  law  and 
in  violation  of  plain  constitutional  provisions,  as  a 
usurpation  of  power  which  no  plea  of  necessity  could 
palliate,  and  a  precedent  most  dangerous  to  the  liberties 
of  the  people.  He  believed  that  "  two  wrongs  never 
could,  under  any  circumstances,  make  a  right;"  hence 
the  position  which  he  assumed  on  this  subject,  and  main- 
tained by  argument,  not  only  at  the  Chicago  Conven- 
tion, but  upon  all  suitable  occasions. 


LECTURES  AT  VARIOUS  PLACES.  107 

Many  good  friends  lamented  that  "  Whiting  had  de- 
stroyed his  influence  and  usefulness  among  Spiritual- 
ists "  by  advocating  views  supposed  to  be  unpopular 
among  them ;  but  it  was  found  to  be  otherwise.  And 
I  have  yet  to  learn  that  a  fearless  defense  of  principle 
ever  permanently  injured  any  person  or  cause,  even  in 
the  eyes  of  that  so-called  capricious  monster,  the 
Public.  He  returned  to  Chicago  August  26,  and  lec- 
tured the  ensuing  Sunday  evening,  Mrs.  Spence  speak- 
ing in  the  afternoon.  The  audience  was  immense  ;  the 
hall,  entrances,  and  even  the  sidewalk  without,  being 
crowded.  He  remained  in  the  city  the  ensuing  week  in 
attendance  upon  the  sessions  of  the  Democratic  National 
Convention,  meeting  many  old  friends  among  the  dele- 
gates, and  making  some  new  ones.  Among  other  pleas- 
ing incidents  may  be  mentioned  an  interview  with  Hon. 
Clement  L.  Vallandigham,  whom  he  met  for  the  first 
time,  and  of  whose  integrity,  ability,  and  sterling  patriot- 
ism he  formed  upon  that  occasion  a  most  favorable 
opinion. 

The  following  month,  September,  he  made  a  trip  to 
Canada,  lecturing  at  London,  and  also  at  a  place  called 
Mitchell,  —  a  Scotch  Presbyterian  stronghold,  —  where, 
for  the  last  time  in  his  career  as  a  Spiritualist  lecturer, 
his  meeting  was  disturbed  by  disorderly  conduct  on  the 
part  of  the  audience.  In  the  early  years  of  Spiritualism, 
as  of  all  other  new  phases  of  thought,  such  things  were 
common,  though  less  so  in  his  experience  than  in 
that  of  many,  on  account  of  his  determined  manner 
of  meeting  such  demonstrations ;  but  at  this  late  day 
the  experience  was  sufficiently  novel  to  be  somewhat 
amusing,  as  a  reminder  of  the  past.  Canada  was  at  this 
time  thronged  with  refugees  from  the  States,  of  various 


108  BIOGRAPHT  OF  A.  B.  WHITING. 

kinds  and  degrees  of  consequence,  and  with  United 
States  detectives  employed  in  watching  over  the  move- 
ments of  such  of  these  as  were  deemed  worth  the 
trouble,  while  the  Dominion  officials  had  an  eye  upon 
both ;  the  whole  making  up  a  drama  of  life  under  un- 
usual and  peculiar  aspects,  which  could  not  fail  to  be 
highly  interesting  and  instructive  to  the  student  of 
human  nature.  On  his  return,  he  lectured  at  Port 
Huron  and  St.  Clair  with  usual  success,  and  then,  ren- 
dered uneasy  by  the  non-receipt  of  his  letters,  hastened 
home.     But  of  this  more  hereafter. 

I  have  said  that  he  had  never  taken  any  part  in  poli- 
tics before  the  public,  as  his  time  and  talents  were  ab- 
sorbed in  another  direction,  and  I  will  here  add  that  he 
never  —  then  or  afterward — took  any  part  in  working 
party  machinery,  further  than  as  a  delegate  in  conven- 
tion ;  nor  was  he  ever,  though  frequently  solicited,  a 
candidate  for  any  office  whatever.  Until  the  campaign 
of  1864  he  had  never  made  a  political  speech,  and  un- 
der circumstances  less  extraordinary  it  is  quite  possible 
that  his  voice  might  never  have  been  heard  in  the 
political  arena.  He  cared  little  for  names,  or  candidates 
personally ;  but  he  could  not  decline,  when  called  upon, 
to  expound  the  principles  of  constitutional  liberty  as  he 
understood  them,  and  warn  the  people  of  the  dangers 
attending  their  violation.  Nor  did  he  hesitate  to  arraign 
the  party,  or  persons,  however  powerful,  whom  he 
deemed  guilty  of  such  violation,  and  denounce  in  the 
most  scathing  terms  that  sham  loyalty  and  bogus 
patriotism  which,  while  arrogating  to  itself  a  monopoly 
of  the  virtues,  could  yet  prefer  schemes  of  partisan 
aggrandisement  to  the  peace  and  prosperity  of  the 
nation. 


A    WEDDING,  109 

During  the  two  weeks  last  preceding  the  election,  he 
delivered  addresses  in  this  and  other  towns  in  Central 
Michigan,  which  added  much  to  his  already  established 
reputation  as  an  eloquent  and  able  orator.  He  pre- 
served, in  this  new  field  of  labor,  his  own  characteris- 
tic style  of  reasoning  from  present  facts  to  their  inevi- 
table sequences,  as  illustrated  by  historical  parallels, 
showing  how,  by  the  operation  of  immutable  law,  simi- 
lar combinations  of  circumstances  invariably  produce 
similar  results  ;  that,  in  fact,  history  repeats  itself,  and 
that  we  can  not  hope  that  a  course  of  action  which 
resulted  disastrously  in  the  past  can,  in  the  same  rela- 
tions, fail  to  result  disastrously  in  the  future. 

Immediately  after  the  election  he  set  out  for  Louis- 
ville, to  officiate  at  the  marriage  of  a  friend,  I  being  his 
companion.  The  trip  was  far  from  being  in  all  respects 
a  pleasurable  one,  —  on  account  of  certain  circum- 
stances to  be  spoken  of  elsewhere,  —  although  every- 
thing possible  was  done  for  our  comfort  and  enjoyment 
by  our  friends  in  that  city.  The  wedding  was  properly 
achieved,  including  the  dinner,  which  I  remember  to 
have  been  a  triumph  of  culinary  skill  and  artistic  embel- 
lishment. We  remained  only  two  weeks,  including  a 
trip  to  Lexington,  when  we  came  near  being  captured 
by  guerrillas,  —  the  succeeding  train  meeting  the  fate 
which  we  escaped. by  what  we  then  supposed  was  a  for- 
tunate chance  ;  but  years  after,  on  a  subsequent  visit 
to  Kentucky,  when  the  war  was  over,  he  was  informed 
that  his  being  on  board  saved  the  train  that  day.  And 
this  is  the  story  as  told  to  him :  — 

The  guerrillas  lay  concealed  in  the-  bushes  near  a 
small  station,  where  one  of  their  number,  in  the  garb 
of  a  peaceful  citizen,  was  detailed  to  inspect  the  train, 


110  BIOGRAPHT  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

see  if  it  was  provided  with  a  guard,  and,  if  not,  to  give 
the  signal  for  attack.  This  man  had,  before  the  war, 
met  A.  B.  Whiting,  and  not  only  was  indebted  to  him 
for  some  kindness,  but  cherished  an  almost  supersti- 
tious reverence  for  his  character  and  mediumistic 
powers.  He  saw  him  standing  upon  the  platform  of 
the  car,  recognized  him,  and  fearing  he  might  be 
harmed  in  an  indiscriminate  fire,  failed  to  give  the  sig- 
nal, and  the  train  passed  by  in  safety.  We  reached 
Lexington,  and  returned  to  Louisville  without  deten- 
tion, and  came  home  December  1. 

The  ensuing  months  up  to  May,  1865,  he  spent 
mostly  in  this  state,  speaking  at  Lansing,  Dewitt,  St. 
Johns,  Ann  Arbor,  and  several  other  points  during  that 
time.  In  the  month  of  February  he  was  called  upon 
to  stand  by  the  death-bed  of  Emma,  wife  of  Dr.  Slade, 
to  perform  the  last  services  over  her  earthly  remains, 
and  to  comfort  and  sustain  his  friend  under  a  double 
burden  of  bereavement,  —  an  only  sister  having  passed 
on  but  a  few  months  previously.  To  this  office  of 
friendship  he  gave  up  his  lecture  engagements  for  the 
time,  and  partially  on  this  account  cancelled  an  engage- 
ment at  Cincinnati  for  the  month  of  March. 

During  this  year,  he  was  in  correspondence  with 
parties  at  various  points  in  Colorado  and  the  western 
territories,  in  contemplation  of  a  tour  in  that  direction 
in  the  spring  and  summer  of  1865,  but  finally  decided 
to  postpone  it  until  some  future  time,  as  he  then  some- 
what expected  to  visit  Europe  the  ensuing  fall.  The 
latter  project  he  was  also  compelled  reluctantly  to 
abandon,  for  personal  reasons,  with  the  hope  of  being 
able  to  carry  it  out  at  some  other  time.  This  he  cer- 
tainly would  have  done  had  his  life  upon  earth  ex- 
tended over  a  few  more  years. 


POLITICAL  PERSECUTION.  Ill 


CHAPTER  XII. 

AN  UNWELCOME   THEME. — ENEMIES,   AND   HOW  THEY 
WERE  BAFFLED.  —  A  GLIMPSE  BEHIND  THE  SCENES. 

SNAKES    THAT  COULD    NOT    ENTRAP,    AND    POISON 

THAT    COULD  NOT  SLAY.  —  POWERS    MUNDANE   AND 
SUPRAMUNDANE. 

I  must  now  revert  to  a  subject  which  I  would  gladly- 
pass  over  in  silence,  did  the  duty  of  a  faithful  historian 
permit ;  but  it  is  necessary  that  it  be  referred  to,  as 
having  an  important  bearing  upon  succeeding  events, 
as  furnishing  remarkable  instances  of  spirit  power,  and 
as  throwing  light  and  glory  upon  a  character  at  once 
inflexible  and  magnanimous.  I  allude  to  the  political 
persecution  to  which  he  was  subjected  during  the  war, 
and  particularly  during  1864-5.  The  extent  to  which 
this  was  carried  was  known  to  few  of  his  friends,  and, 
as  we  charitably  believe,  to  few  of  his  enemies.  I  have 
no  desire  to  recall  past  bitterness  by  any  personal  allu- 
sions. Several  of  those  principally  involved  have  passed 
from  the  earthly  stage,  and  by  this  time  understand 
something  of  the  power  that  could  so  signally  thwart 
their  purposes.  Many  who  took  minor  parts  in  the 
drama  were  actuated  by  a  misapprehension  of  facts, 
mistaken  sense  of  duty,  or  excess  of  partisan  feeling, 
and  had  no  idea  that  the  farce  in  which  they  were 
assisting  might  have  become  a  tragedy.  Therefore, 
bearing  malice  toward  none,  and  desiring  ever  to  give 


112  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

the  most  charitable  construction  to  human  motives,  I 
shall  state  merely  a  few  leading  facts  in  this  connec- 
tion, omitting  names  and  exact  dates  for  the  reasons 
above  hinted  at,  and  not  from  inability  to  give  both 
if  I  thought  best  to  do  so ;  for  though  much  that  fol- 
lows was  first  made  known  to  us  from  spiritual  sources, 
in  the  way  of  warnings  of  danger,  ample  mundane  testi- 
mony was  subsequently  furnished,  and  some  of  the  facts, 
as  will  be  seen,  were  within  my  personal  knowledge. 

At  even  this  short  distance  of  time,  it  seems  almost 
incredible  that  a  state  of  things  should  have  existed  in 
this  country,  which  could  render  it  possible  for  per- 
sonal or  party  spite  to  conspire  against  the  liberty  and 
lives  of  unoffending  citizens,  under  color  of  public  neces- 
sity; but  that  such  things  were,  we,  who  saw  them, 
know. 

From  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  he,  in  common  with 
many  others,  who,  amid  the  general  rage,  dared  to 
speak  for  peace,  was  exposed  to  the  hatred  of  a  set  of 
persons  who  had  but  one  word  for  all  opinions  differing 
from  their  own,  and  that  word  treason.  He  was  fre- 
quently threatened,  either  openly  or  covertly,  with  the 
tender  mercies  of  Fort  Warren;  but  neither  threats, 
nor  the  puny  efforts  of  those  who  exerted  their  utmost 
power  to  compass  their  execution,  troubled  him  much. 
Relying  not  only  upon  firm  friends  here,  but  upon  the 
powerful  protection  and  guidance  of  dwellers  in  the 
upper  realms,  he  went  about  his  business  unmoved,  and 
seemingly  unconscious.  Though  he  was  well  aware 
that  he  was  shadowed  by  spies,  and  his  most  innocent 
action  liable  to  be  distorted  by  their  officious  zeal,  yet, 
as  he  had  nothing  to  conceal,  he  could  afford  to  laugh 
at  their  waste  of  time  and  travel,  and  even  occasionally 


5  TRA  TA  GEMS.  113 

indulge  in  a  little  harmless  fun  at  their  expense, — 
which  he  could  easily  do,  as  they,  of  course,  did  not 
suspect  that  he  was  acquainted  with  their  character  or 
business.  He  considered  this  mode  of  retaliation  legiti- 
mate, since  no  serious  redress  was  possible  in  the  prem- 
ises, and  I  think  he  troubled  some  of  them  about  as 
much  as  they  did  him.  His  trips  to  Canada  and  Ken- 
tucky were  watched  with  especial  eagerness  by  these 
gentry,  in  the  hope  —  as  we  guessed  then,  and  after- 
ward ascertained  —  of  finding  a  mare's  nest  that  might 
be  construed  into  the  carrying  of  rebel  correspondence. 
That  their  industry  went  unrewarded  by  discovery,  was 
not  their  fault ;  for  his  circumspectness  refused  to  give 
them  as  much  as  a  Pickwickian  warming-pan  to  found 
a  supposition  on. 

Another  thing,  which  annoyed  him  far  more  than 
this  personal  surveillance,  was  the  frequent  detention 
of  his  mail  matter,  and  —  as  he  had  every  reason  to 
believe  —  its  overhauling  by  parties  to  whom  he  had 
never  delegated  that  responsibility.  His  foreign  cor- 
respondence and  his  own  letters  home  seemed  to  be 
especial  objects  of  curiosity  to  some  seekers  after  knowl- 
edge. He  noticed  that  whatever  intelligence  he  im- 
parted in  his  letters,  regarding  his  future  movements, 
quickly  became  known  to  his  followers.  To  still  fur- 
ther satisfy  himself  of  the  truth  of  his  suspicions,  by 
agreement  with  me,  he  tried  the  experiment  of  writing 
home  a  programme  entirely  at  variance  with  his  real 
intentions,  and  amusing  himself  with  their  consequent 
bewilderment.  But  a  still  more  direct  proof  was  ob- 
tained by  the  sending  of  decoy  letters,  marked,  —  I 
being  instructed  not  to  open  them  until  his  return, 
when  he  could  determine,  by  examination,  whether  they 
8 


114  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.  WHITING. 

had  been  tampered  with  since  they  left  his  hand.  Of 
course  this  state  of  things  was  not  particularly  pleasant, 
or  well  calculated  to  win  the  affection  of  the  recipient 
of  such  peculiar  attentions ;  hence  it  is  not  strange 
that  the  sense  of  personal  outrage  confirmed  and 
strengthened  his  opposition  to  the  party  which  he  held 
responsible  for  introducing  into  free  America  the  ma- 
chinery of  despotism. 

This  was  the  state  of  things  which  existed  up  to  the 
fall  of  1864,  and  which,  doubtless,  accented  the  deter- 
mined stand  taken  by  him  at  the  Chicago  Convention, 
and  during  the  ensuing  campaign.  His  denunciations 
of  political  spies  and  informers,  as  tools  of  a  tyranny 
whose  existence  was  incompatible  with  the  first  princi- 
ples of  free  government,  came  with  the  force  gained 
from  knowledge  of  that  whereof  he  spoke,  and  struck 
home  so  tellingly  that  he  was  privately  offered  an 
appointment  to  a  lucrative  office  if  he  would  "  allow 
himself  to  be  converted  from  his  political  errors,"  while 
disastrous  personal  consequences  were  hinted  at  in  case 
of  his  persistence  therein. 

To  some  minds  such  a  proposition  might  have 
brought  temptation ;  but  a  man  who  had  stood  for 
years  in  the  front  ranks  of  an  unpopular  cause,  and, 
even  when  scarce  emerging  from  boyhood,  spurned 
repeated  offers  of  church  preferment  at  the  price  of 
his  religious  principles,  was  little  likely,  in  mature 
manhood,  to  make  a  sale  of  his  political  convictions. 
Of  course  the  agents,  who  had  thus  placed  themselves 
to  some  degree  in  his  power,  could  not  forgive  his 
obduracy,  and  thus  the  number  and  virulence  of  his 
enemies  was  increased.  Had  he  apprehended  the  most 
disastrous  results   that  malevolence   could   devise,    it 


THE  SECRET  CIRCULAR.  115 

would  not  have  shaken  his  firmness.  But  one  who 
never  deceived  had  said  that  his  life  and  liberty  should 
be  held  sacred  even  in  the  midst  of  danger.  So,  with 
firm  reliance  upon  his  spirit  guards,  he  went  calmly 
and  fearlessly  on,  taking  from  time  to  time  such  pre- 
cautions as  his  own  reason,  or  their  superior  knowl- 
edge, suggested  as  tending  to  insure  his  safety.  Nor 
were  earthly  friends  wanting,  as  will  be  seen ;  and  thus, 
though  perils  gathered  thick  about  his  way,  each  was 
successively  evaded,  and  with  so  little  apparent  effort, 
that  those  whose  schemes  were  brought  to  naught  were 
fain  to  ascribe  their  defeat  to  chance.  I  will  not  partic- 
ularize at  length.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  from  represen- 
tations made  at  Washington,  an  order  was  issued  for 
his  arrest,  which,  however,  after  being  delayed  at  first 
because  it  was  not  deemed  prudent  to  attempt  to  exe- 
cute it  in  the  State  of  Michigan,  where  he  then  was, 
was  finally  destroyed  by  the  interposition  of  a  lady 
friend,  who  afterward  related  the  circumstance  to  him, 
and  was  somewhat  surprised  when  he  told  her  he  knew 
the  fact  before,  though  not  the  person  to  whose  kind- 
ness he  was  indebted. 

A  similar  order  was  issued  from  the  military  head- 
quarters at  St.  Louis,  and  embodied  in  a  secret  circular 
to  the  several  chief  detectives,  offering  a  reward  of  five 
thousand  dollars  for  his  capture  and  delivery  at  one  of 
the  principal  posts  in  that  department,  or  for  satisfac- 
tory proof  of  his  death.  Then  followed  a  description  of 
his  person  and  dress,  including  a  peculiar  scarf  which 
he  wore  at  that  time.  All  that  could  be  construed  into 
an  accusation  in  this  singular  document  was  comprised 
in  the  phrase,  "  suspected  of  being  a  rebel  mail  agent," 
which  was  appended  to  his  name;  but  no  accusation 


116  BIOGRAPHT  OF  A.   B.    WHITING. 

was  needed  where  martial  law  was  in  force  ;  hence  the 
choice  of  locality. 

Men  were  not  wanting  who  were  eager  to  jearn  five 
thousand  dollars,  even  as  the  price  of  blood ;  and  when 
it  was  ascertained  that  he  was  about  to  visit  Louisville, 
there  was  great  rejoicing  at  the  pleasing  prospect  of 
seeing  their  prey  walk  directly  into  the  trap.  So  con- 
fident were  they,  that  they  quarreled  beforehand  over 
the  division  of  the  spoils  —  a  quarrel  which  nearly 
proved  fatal  to  him ;  for  one  zealous  youth  determined 
to  forestall  the  rest,  and  in  pursuance  of  that  determi- 
nation, dogged  him  on  his  journey  southward,  intend- 
ing to  have  him  seized  in  the  city  of  Indianapolis,  and 
spirited  away  with  all  possible  secrecy  and  dispatch. 
My  being  with  him,  and  certain  circumstances  which 
had  not  been  counted  on,  defeated  this  brilliant  plan. 
The  auspicious  moment  passed.  But  the  prize  was 
not  to  be  surrendered  so  easily.  The  second  clause 
of  the  order  flashed  upon  the  mind  of  the  ambitious 
detective  ;  he  procured  a  quantity  of  strychnine,  and, 
watching  his  opportunity,  at  a  little  station  where  we 
stopped  for  refreshments,  poisoned  the  coffee  which  had 
been  ordered  by  his  intended  victim.  My  brother, 
with  a  traveler's  haste,  swallowed  a  portion  of  the 
coffee  before  the  warning  hand  of  the  spirit  guide  re- 
strained him ;  the  warning  voice  whispered,  "It  is 
drugged."  He  disposed  of  the  balance,  so  that  it 
might  be  supposed  that  he  had  drank  the  whole,  and 
resumed  his  place  in  the  car,  expecting  to  be  very  sick, 
—  as  he  was  for  a  short  time ;  but  his  powerful  spirit 
guide  said,  "  We  will  soon  neutralize  the  poison." 
And,  sure  enough,  the  sickness  passed  away,  and  he 
suffered    no    further    immediate    inconvenience,   thus 


THE  SPIRIT  GUIDE.  117 

verifying  the  Scripture  promise  to  them  that  believe, 
"If  they  drink  any  deadly  thing  it  shall  not  hurt 
them.', 

Persons  skeptical  in  spiritual  things  may  desire  to 
know  what  were  our  mundane  sources  of  knowledge 
as  to  the  nature  of  the  drug  administered.  These  I  am 
at  liberty  to  state  in  part  to  have  been,  first,  medical 
knowledge  and  recognition  of  the  symptoms  induced ; 
and,  second,  —  a  proof  which  has  convicted  many  a 
murderer,  —  an  examination  of  the  residuum  of  the 
cup ;  while  the  anxious  and  bewildered  looks  of  the 
would-be  assassin  confirmed  the  information  as  to  his 
identity  beyond  a  doubt.  I  think  I  hear  some  innocent 
person  inquire,  indignantly,  why  the  perpetrator  of 
such  a  crime  was  not  brought  to  the  tribunal  of  justice. 
Ah,  my  friend,  you  little  know  the  state  of  things 
which  existed  then  and  there,  or  the  immense  power 
wielded  by  the  secret  service,  backed  by  the  army,  if 
you  believe  such  a  course  to  have  been  possible.  But, 
had  it  been  possible,  it  would  only  have  been  striking 
at  the  instrument  of  an  effect,  whose  cause  would  have 
still  eluded  the  grasp  of  mortal  retribution.  For  this 
poor,  tempted  man  our  natural  feeling  of  condemna- 
tion was  not  unmixed  with  pity.  We  never  saw  him 
more  on  earth ;  but  about  six  years  after,  when  these 
circumstances  had  in  some  degree  passed  from  our 
minds,  one  day  he  appeared  to  my  brother  in  spirit, 
related  these  incidents  in  proof  of  his  identity,  ex- 
pressed sorrow  for  the  wrong  done,  and  was  forgiven. 

But  to  resume  :  On  our  arrival  in  Louisville,  the  mem- 
bers of  the  detective  force  who  had  been  detailed  to  watch 
for  his  coming  were  by  some  means  thrown  off  the  track, 
mistaking  the  object  of  their  search  for  the  expected 


118  BIOGRAPHT   OF  A.  B.  WHITING. 

bridegroom,  who,  as  it  happened,  was  stopping  in  another 
part  of  the  city ;  and  the  mistake  was  connived  at  by  an 
employee  in  the  secret  service,  who,  for  reasons  of  fami- 
ly friendship,  was  disposed  to  be  his  friend,  thongh  per- 
sonally a  stranger.  This  individual  still  further  diverted 
their  attention  by  false  information,  until,  warned  by 
the  u  Old  Man  "  that  he  must  remain  no  longer,  A.  B. 
Whiting  had  left  the  city.  The  very  day  of  our  de- 
parture the  enemy  made  a  reconnoissance  upon  the  place 
where  we  had  been  stopping,  finding  no  one  at  home 
but  a  colored  woman,  who  told  them  we  had  all 
gone  to  Cincinnati  (which  she  supposed  to  be  true, 
as  her  mistress  had  really  gone  thither).  So  to  Cincin- 
nati they  posted,  while  we  were  speeding  northward  by 
the  most  direct  route,  via  Indianapolis.  From  the 
friendly  detective,  whose  good  offices  are  acknowledged 
above,  the  confirmation  of  these  facts  was  obtained, 
together  with  many  details  not  here  set  down.  Nor 
was  this  the  only  unexpected  friend  that  was  raised  up 
for  us  upon  this  extraordinary  trip.  Soon  after  we  left 
Indianapolis  northward,  a  man  called  him  one  side  and 
said,  "  My  friend,  you  are  in  danger.  There  are  men 
on  the  train  who  have  instructions  to  look  for  you ;  but 
they  rather  expect  you  have  gone  another  route,  and,  I 
think,  do  not  know  your  person.  Keep  quiet,  and  they 
may  not  recognize  you,  though  they  have  a  good  de- 
scription. But,  if  worst  comes  to  .worst,  you  have  friends 
at  hand  who  will  stand  by  you  and  see  you  safe  through." 
This  was  the  substance  of  this  abrupt  address,  though 
not,  of  course,  the  whole,  nor  the  exact  words  used. 
He  was  a  tall,  powerfully-built  man,  somewhat  rough 
in  speech,  and  had  several  companions,  armed,  like  him- 
self, to  the  teeth,  and  intimated  that  there  was  a  much 


A   STRANGE  FRIEND.  119 

greater  number  on  the  train  upon  whom  he  could  rely 
in  case  of  an  emergency.  Who  and  what  he  was,  and 
wherefore  his  interest  in  our  behalf;  how  he  gained 
his  information ;  whence  he  came  with  his  band  of 
armed  men  and  whither  he  was  going,  —  are  questions 
which  he  did  not  see  fit  to  answer,  and  our  conjectures 
are  not  relevant  to  this  history.  Certain  it  is  that  he 
fulfilled  his  promise,  and  guarded  us  faithfully  and 
effectually,  and  only  bade  us  good  by  when  we  had  left 
behind  the  regions  where  any  overt  act  was  to  be  ap- 
prehended. Whatever  may  have  been  the  motive  for 
this  singular  service,  it  was  appreciated  and  is  gratefully 
remembered. 

After  this  experience,  and  warned  that  it  would  be 
hazardous  to  do  so,  my  brother  did  not  again  venture 
his  safety  within  the  boundaries  of  that  department 
while  it  remained  under  military  rule,  but  cancelled  an 
engagement  at  Cincinnati  on  information  that  its  fulfill- 
ment would  be  the  signal  for  still  more  desperate  at- 
tempts to  earn  the  coveted  reward.  There  was  little 
danger  of  his  being  openly  interfered  with  in  the  North, 
as  any  such  proceeding  would  not  only  have  been  liable 
to  defeat  and  punishment  at  the  hands  of  the  law,  but 
would  have  aroused  a  storm  of  popular  indignation 
which  it  was  not  thought  politic  to  brave.  His  move- 
ments were  still  closely  scanned,  however,  in  the  hope 
of  some  favorable  chance  occurring,  and  during  the 
winter  more  than  one  shrewd  plot  was  hatched  only 
to  be  defeated.  But  to  recapitulate  details  would  be, 
not  only  useless,  but  tedious.  After  a  while  it  began  to 
be  whispered  among  "professionals"  that  to  shadow 
Whiting  was,  not  only  a  difficult,  but  an  unlucky  job ; 
that  whoever  attempted  it  always  came  to  grief ;  that  he 


120  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

not  only  bore  a  charmed  life,  bnt  could  divine  the  inmost 
thoughts  of  his  enemies  ;  and  other  superstitious  inter- 
pretations of  the  real  facts. 

The  nuisance  gradually  abated,  and,  though  revived 
temporarily  during  the  excitement  consequent  upon  the 
death  of  President  Lincoln,  was  chiefly  maintained  by 
amateurs,  to  baffle  whose  schemes  was  child's  play  to 
one  who  had  successfully  coped  with  some  of  the  most 
skillful  plotters  in  the  secret  service. 

One  word  more  before  I  leave  this  unwelcome  subject 
finally :  Many  will  doubtless  read  this  chapter  with  as- 
tonishment, and  wonder  how  he  could  have  gone  on  so 
calmly,  allowing  no  sign  of  disquietude  to  appear  upon 
the  surface ;  how  we  could  have  borne  in  silence  the 
fearful  uncertainty  that  his  frequent  absence  must  have 
brought.  It  is,  in  one  sense,  an  instance  going  to 
prove  what  I  believe  to  be  true,  that  the  human  mind 
can  endure,  and  become  in  some  degree  accustomed  to, 
any  state  of  things  which  exists  around  it,  and  to  which 
it  can  devise  no  remedy.  But  in  our  case  it  should 
perhaps  be  added,  that  the  gift  of  silence  is  our  natural 
heritage,  and  our  reliance  upon  angel  guardianship 
was  a  rock  of  strength,  to  sustain  and  uphold  which, 
was  not  possessed  by  many  who  needed  it  as  sorely. 
For  he  was  not  the  only  one  subject  to  similar  annoy- 
ances, with  as  little  righteous  cause.  In  times  of  pub- 
lic commotion,  personal  and  party  hatred  always  seeks 
opportunities  to  gratify  itself  under  cover  of  the  general 
confusion.  The  extent  and  long  continuance  of  the 
persecution  in  his  case  were  due  to  several  reasons,  one 
of  which  was  the  fact  that  it  sprang,  primarily,  from 
two  separate  and  distinct  sources ;  and  another  may  be 
found  in  the  natural  disinclination  of  the  human  mind 


MAGNANIMITY.  121 

to  submit  to  defeat,  particularly  when  caused  by  forces 
whose  existence  is  scarcely  realized,  and  whose  opposi- 
tion, however  powerful,  is  silent,  and  raises  no  banner 
of  victory.  But  while,  as  I  said,  many  will  peruse  with 
wonder,  and  some,  perhaps,  with  incredulity,  the  nar- 
rative briefly  sketched  in  the  preceding  pages,  others, 
who,  from  glimpses  behind  the  scenes,  know  that  the 
half  is  not  told,  will  be  disappointed  that  I  do  not  fur- 
ther elucidate  the  secret  workings  of  that  detective 
system  with  which  he  became  so  thoroughly  acquainted, 
and  hold  up  to  public  obloquy  those  responsible  for  its 
abuses,  as  well  as  the  persons  who  instigated  the  turn- 
ing of  its  machinery  against  him.  The  first  I  con- 
sider beyond  the  proper  scope  of  a  work  which  is  not  a 
"  Secret  History  of  the  War,"  but  the  biography  of  an 
individual ;  therefore,  all  other  reasons  being  laid  aside, 
I  should  not  enter  upon  it  here.  Nor  do  I  feel  that  I 
could  do  the  subject  justice.  For  the  second,  we  are 
not  a  vindictive  race.  He  could  so  far  forgive  his  ene- 
mies as  to  refrain  from  retorting  injury  when  they  were 
in  his  power,  or  even  rejoicing  when  misfortunes  came 
upon  them.  His  magnanimity  changed  many  foes  to 
friends,  and  enabled  him  to  aid  them  in  the  path  of 
spiritual  progress.  Therefore  would  I  throw  the. mantle 
of  charity  over  their  deeds,  and,  though  I  cannot  forget, 
let  their  names  sink  peacefully  into  -  oblivion,  knowing 
that  the  guilty  will  inevitably,  here  or  hereafter,  suffer 
the  penalty  of  their  misdeeds,  and  rise  purified  to  a 
nobler  life. 


122  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.   WHITING. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

NEW  SUCCESSES  IN  THE  EAST.  —  WASHINGTON  AND  THE 
SOUTH  AFTER  THE  WAR.  —  LECTURES  IN  CINCINNATI 
AND  LOUISVILLE.  —  PERSONS  MET  WITH  AND  THINGS 
SEEN. — J.  M.  PEEBLES  AND  THE  "WESTERN  DE- 
PARTMENT OF  THE  BANNER  OF  LIGHT." — CONTEM- 
PLATED DEBATE  AT  ST.  JOHNS,  MICH.  —  HISTORY 
THEREOF. 

In  May,  1865,  lie  again  took  his  way  eastward,  lectur- 
ing during  that  month  in  Providence,  where  the  hall 
was  too  small  to  hold  the  people,  though  the  largest  in 
the  city,  and  during  the  following  month  in  Charles- 
town,  Mass.  His  marked  success  at  this  time  was  pe- 
culiarly pleasing  to  his  friends,  from  the  fact  that  many 
thought  that  his  political  views  would  have  destroyed 
his  prestige,  as  a  Spiritualist  lecturer,  in  New  England. 
^But  the  result  proved  the  contrary ;  for,  though  a  few  in- 
dividuals were  found  fanatical  and  intolerant  enough  to 
inveigh  against  him  on  that  account,  and  advise  people 
not  to  go  to  hear  him,  to  the  credit  of  Spiritualism  be  it 
spoken,  they  were  comparatively  rare  ;  and  their  denun- 
ciations, far  from  producing  any  ill  effect,  induced  many 
to  attend  "just  to  see  what  the  terrible  '  Secesh '  speak- 
er would  say,"  who  were  thus  treated  to  a  dose  of  un- 
adulterated Spiritualism,  to  their  lasting  benefit.  His 
popularity,  so  far  from  being  diminished,  was  greatly 
increased,  and  extended  to  a  wider  circle  of  minds ;  for 


RETURN  HOME.  123 

the  multitude  instinctively  admire  and  honor  indepen- 
dent thought,  and  fearless  speech.  He  took  not  the 
slightest  notice  of  the  efforts  of  detractors,  nor  did  he 
ever  upon  the  spiritual  rostrum  stoop  to  vindicate  his 
political  opinions  or  defend  his  unquestionable  right  to 
hold  them.  This  course,  which  he  facetiously  described 
as  the  maintenance  of  "  calm  dignity  and  solemn 
silence,"  redounded  greatly  to  his  credit,  and  he  often 
recommended  it  to  others  in  public  life,  as  the  best  and 
most  effectual  method  of  meeting  personal  attack  and 
misrepresentation. 

Between  his  Sunday  lectures  at  Charlestown  he  made 
short  visits  to  our  friends  in  Abington  and  East  Bridge- 
water,  and  also  attended  a  Rhode  Island  clam-bake  at 
South  Providence  and  a  picnic  at  Dungeon  Rock,  Lynn, 
where  two  thousand  people  were  gathered  for  a  good 
time.  These  incidents,  with  frequent  visits  to  Boston 
and  the  "Banner"  office,  filled  the  time  pleasantly,  to 
say  nothing  of  the  genial  society  of  good  friends  at 
Charlestown,  the  names  of  some  of  whom  are  synony- 
mous with  hospitality  and  social  enjoyment  wherever 
known. 

He  returned  home  early  in  July,  and  during  that 
month  remained  at  home  a  large  part  of  the  time  ;  at- 
tended meetings  at  St.  Johns  and  some  other  places,  but 
did  not  leave  the  state  again  until  October,  when  he 
went  to  Washington.  There  he  found  many  changes 
brought  about  by  the  rude  hand  of  war,  and,  as  his  ob- 
servations at  this  time  may  be  interesting  to  many,  I 
will  give  some  brief  extracts  from  his  letters. 

"  The  city  is  changed  very  much  since  I  was  here. 
The  avenues  about  the  Capitol  look  natural,  except  the 
once  beautiful  yards,  which  are  disfigured  with  tempo- 


124  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.  WHITING. 

rary  wooden  buildings,  some  of  which  are,  however,  in 
process  of  removal.  In  passing  the  residence  of  Secre- 
tary Stanton  one  sees  about  six  armed  guards  on  foot 
and  four  on  horseback,  who  keep  watch  over  the  man 
of  sin  both  by  day  and  night.  I  should  think  that  his 
dreams  would  be  a  little  disturbed  sometimes. 

"  The  dome  of  the  Capitol  is  finished  since  I  was  here, 
and  there  are  a  number  of  splendidly  executed  paint- 
ings in  the  rotunda,  which  are  the  originals  of  the  en- 
gravings on  the  backs  of  the  national  currency.  I 
spent  a  pleasant  morning  in  the  portrait  gallery  con- 
nected with  the  Attornery  General's  office.  It  contains 
life-size  portraits  of  every  Attorney  General  from  the 
days  of  Washington  to  the  time  of  Johnson,  inclu- 
sive. I  recognized  the  personally  well-known  features 
of  Cushing,  of  Massachusetts,  Black,  of  Pennsylvania, 
Clifford,  of  Georgia,  Butler,  of  South  Carolina,  Bates, 
of  Missouri,  &c,  and  also  the  historically  well-known 
ones  of  Randolph,  Lee,  Legere,  and  others. 

"Publicly  and  civilly  I  have  every  attention  that 
heart  could  desire ;  but  Washington  is  in  rather  a  cha- 
otic state  socially.  No  foreign  embassador  puts  on  more 
style  than  Signor  Romero,  the  minister  of  the  defunct 
Republic  of  Mexico.  I  was  at  the  White  House  to-day, 
and  heard  President  Johnson  make  a  speech  from  the 
steps,  to  the  First  District  of  Columbia  Colored  Volun- 
teers. He  exhorted  them  to  be  civil  and  law-abiding 
people  and  show  by  their  lives  that  they  were  entitled 
to  the  freedom  which  the  chance  of  war  had  thrust  upon 
them. 

44  My  old  friend,  Mr.  Laurie,  is  still  chief  of  the  Bureau 
of  Statistics,  Post  Office  Department,  a  post  he  has  occu- 
pied twenty-four  years,  and  to  which  he  was  appointed 


PERSONS  AND    THINGS   SEEN.  125 

by  President  Jackson.  He  has  the  walls  of  his  office 
lined  with  pictures,  many  beautiful  spirit  drawings 
among  the  number.  Yesterday  I  went  out  to  his  resi- 
dence to  attend  the  funeral  of  his  little  grandchild,  and 
saw  there  an  example  of  the  incidental  destruction 
caused  by  the  war,  aside  from  that  which  resulted  from 
actual  hostilities.  Just  before  the  war  broke  out,  Mr. 
Laurie  had  moved  from  his  former  residence  at  George- 
town, and  purchased  and  fitted  up  a  beautiful  place 
north  of  the  city.  When  the  first  troops  came  on,  they 
took  possession  of  his  property  as  a  nice  location  for  a 
hospital;  for  which  purpose  they  kept  it  until  this 
spring.  And  such  a  wreck !  All  his  orchard,  all  the 
trailing  vines,  shrubbery,  and  vineyard.  —  not  a  vestige 
left.  He  has  just  refenced  it  and  repaired  the  house  so 
he  could  move  back.  He  says  they  even  destroyed  all 
the  windows  and  doors,  but,  by  some  strange  fatality, 
the  beautiful  grove  of  oaks  and  maples,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  few  trees,  is  unharmed. 

"  For  all  this  he  has,  as  yet,  received  not  one  cent. 
His  bill  of  damages  passed  one  branch  of  Congress  last 
winter,  but  was  killed  by  the  other.  He  estimates  his 
damages  at  ten  thousand  dollars,  which  I  should  think 
would  not  cover  actual  loss,  to  say  nothing  of  rent  for 
four  years.  This  little  item  gives  a  faint  idea  of  the 
immensity  of  such  damages." 

October  21.  "I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing,  at 
Willard's  Hotel,  yesterday  morning,  Alexander  H. 
Stephens,  late  Vice-President  of  the  Southern  Con- 
federacy. With  the  exception  of  his  hair  being  a  trifle 
grayer,  he  looks  much  as  he  did  seven  years  ago.  He 
wears  the  same,  or  similar,  swallow-tailed  coat  and  By- 


126  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.  WHITING. 

ronic  collar.  He  calls  on  the  President  to-day  and 
starts  for  Georgia  to-morrow. 

"I  find  Spiritualists  occupying  the  most  prominent 
positions  in  every  department ;  but  few,  comparatively, 
take  any  active  part  in  sustaining  meetings.  They 
might,  if  they  would  combine  and  make  themselves 
publicly  known,  give  it  a  rank  and  standing  equal  to  its 
claims,  and  wield  a  vast  power  for  good. 

"  Many  wonderful  developments  have  occurred  giving 
a  key  to  the  '  Old  Man's  '  operations  last  winter.  If  I 
needed  anything  to  make  my  faith  in  him  stronger,  I 
have  it  here  and  in  the  culmination  of  those  events." 

The  audiences  steadily  increased  during  his  stay,  and 
he  was,  on  the  whole,  well  satisfied  with  his  month's 
work. 

He  went  thence  to  Louisville  for  the  month  of  No- 
vember, where  he  was  greeted  with  such  crowded 
houses  the  first  Sunday  that  he  wrote  home,  — 

"  I  don't  know  where  I  will  put  the  people  before 
I  get  through.  Wilson  has  done  great  good  here  in  the 
way  of  stirring  up  the  people.  The  first  meetings  were 
got  up  by  the  efforts  of  two  individuals,  but  the  society, 
only  formed  in  September,  is  now  doing  finely.  Many 
of  the  old  Spiritualists,  who  have  not  been  before  this 
season,  came  last  Sunday,  and  gave  in  their  names." 

As,  while  at  Washington,  he  visited  all  points  with- 
in convenient  access  of  that  city  which  had  an  interest 
either  from  recent  events  or  previous  acquaintance,  so 
he  took  this  opportunity  to  traverse  portions  of  the 
South  which  he  had  known  as  blooming  gardens,  but 
which  now  were  strewn  with  sad  memorials  of  the  clash 
of  hostile  armies.  He  undertook  this  painful  task  in 
order  to  gain  an  exact  knowledge  upon  certain  subjects, 


THOUGHTS   ON   WAR.  127 

concerning  which,  there  were  many  conflicting  state- 
ments afloat  through  the  country,  and  not  from  mere 
curiosity  or  desire  to  tread  in  the  track  of  notable 
events. 

The  scenes  of  great  acts  in  life's  drama  are,  to  the 
thinker,  full  of  instruction. 

Let  him  who  would  seek  glory  in  war  go,  stand 
upon  some  lonely  battle-field  from  which  the  tramp  of 
armies  has  died  away,  and  see  how  time  and  nature 
strive  to  heal  and  cover  up  the  unsightly  wounds  and  scars 
that  tell  the  sad  tale  of  strife  and  bloodshed.  Mark  yonder 
trees,  seamed  and  shattered  by  shell  and  ball ;  how  gal- 
lantly they  have  endeavored  to  deck  their  disfigured 
limbs  with  foliage,  though,  to  some  of  them,  it  was  the 
last  effort  of  expiring  life.  See  how  the  grass  has  crept 
over  and  softened  the  rude  outlines  of  the  trenches 
where  the  deadly  charge  was  made,  while  flowers  and 
trailing  vines  wrap  in  tender  embrace  the  moldering 
relics  of  the  half-buried  dead.  Then  turn  and  view 
the  change  and  desolation  wrought  in  happy  homes,  and 
apply  the  lesson  —  that  war,  so  far  from  being  a  sub- 
ject of  boasting,  is  a  misfortune  to  be  deplored ;  and  in- 
stead of  tearing  open  the  half-closed  wounds,  seek 
rather  to  bring  the  healing  balm  of  peace  and  forgetful- 
ness  to  the  many  stricken  hearts  that  are  everywhere 
amongst  us. 

He  found,  literally,  a  land  of  mourning,  where  the 
story  of  loved  ones  slain  and  fortunes  swept  away  was 
the  rule,  and  not  the  exception ;  where  cities  were  in 
ashes,  and  fields  overgrown  with  weeds :  yet  whose 
people  were  striving  bravely  to  cover  up  the  scars,  and, 
by  a  renewal  of  their  industries,  to  open  a  way  out  of 
their  present  state  of  poverty  and  exhaustion.     Many 


128  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.   B.    WHITING. 

whom  he  had  known  when  they  stood  on  the  top  rounds 
of  fortune's  ladder,  were  beginning  again  at  the  bottom, 
reduced  to  till  the  bare  land  which  was  the  only  rem- 
nant of  vast  wealth,  and  even  that  held  by  an  uncertain 
tenure.  He  saw,  indeed,  with  pleasure,  a  disposition 
on  the  part  of  capitalists  of  more  favored  sections  to 
come  to  the  aid  of  reviving  trade  and  commerce,  and 
could  not  resist  the  thought,  that  such  kindly  policy  — 
the  hand  outstretched  to  help  in  the  hour  of  need  — 
would  do  more  to  bind  together  and  perpetuate  the 
Union,  than  all  the  elaborate  schemes  of  reconstruction 
that  the  most  ingenious  mind  could  devise. 

His  friend  Dr.  Ferguson  had  returned  from  Europe, 
where  he  had  been  with  the  Davenport  brothers,  and 
was  in  Nashville,  but  he  missed  seeing  him,  to  his  great 
regret.  He  spoke  at  Salem,  Ind.,  four  evenings  the 
last  of  November,  and  at  Evansville  a  portion  of  Decem- 
ber ;  of  which  place  he  says,  — 

"  This  is  one  of  the  dirtiest  towns  I  ever  saw,  and  its 
theology  is  about  as  bad ;  but  there  are  a  few  whole- 
souled  friends  here  to  save  the  city." 

With  only  a  short  visit  home  he  returned  to  Louis- 
ville, January  1,  1866,  where,  as  before,  crowded 
houses  greeted  him,  especially  on  Sunday  evenings.  He 
also  gave  a  course  of  Friday  evening  lectures  on  sub- 
jects of  a  literary  character,  the  proceeds  of  which  he 
donated  to  the  society  to  aid  them  in  purchasing  an 
organ,  and  spoke  one  evening  at  Jefferson ville,  Ind., 
and  three  evenings  at  Alton,  a  little  place  seventy  miles 
down  the  river,  on  the  Indiana  side.  He  remained  at 
Louisville  until  April,  with  the  exception  of  a  week's 
visit  home  in  February.  During  a  portion  of  the  time 
E.  V.  Wilson  was  lecturing  at  New  Albany.    Dr.  Slade 


CELEBRATED  MEDIUMS.  129 

spent  a  week  in  the  city,  examining  the  sick  and  hold- 
ing circles ;  and  quite  a  number  of  other  noted  medi- 
ums were  spending  more  or  less  time  there  or  in  the 
vicinity.  Among  them  were  Dr.  Warren,  the  healer, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ferris,  of  Toledo,  and  the  famous  Col- 
chester ;  also  a  lady  medium  from  Richmond,  Ind.,  of 
whom  he  wrote  home  as  follows :  — 

"Her  manifestations  consist  in  giving  names  and 
communications  from  individual  spirits.  The  first  time 
I  saw  her  she  gave  the  names  of  about  fifteen  of  our 
ancestors :  Sir  Thomas  Gardner,  Benjamin  Gardner,  and 
Leah  Gardner  among  the  number ;  also  brother  Willie ; 
but,  the  most  wonderful  of  all,  she  remarked  4  there  is  a 
spirit  here  who  says  he  is  your  grandfather  French,  and 
husband  to  the  Leah  Gardner,  but  has  another  wife  in 
the  spirit  world.'  She  then  described  him  correctly, 
long  nose  and  all." 

The  gentleman  spoken  of  was  our  mother's  step- 
father, and  always  called  by  us  "  grandfather  French," 
and  was  a  person  of  rather  marked  appearance  ;  hence 
the  peculiar  force  of  the  test. 

He  was  also  much  interested  in  listening  again  to  the 
musical  prodigy  "  Blind  Tom,"  whom  he  had  heard 
some  years  previously,  soon  after  his  power  was  first 
developed,  and  when  it  was  little  known  beyond  the 
immediate  circle  of  his  master's  family  and  friends. 
With  regard  to  him  and  the  medium  Colchester,  I  will 
give  brief  extracts  from  letters. 

March  12.  "  Blind  Tom  is  to  be  here  this  week,  so 
I  shall  hear  him  once  more.  Colchester,  the  great 
medium  of  Buffalo-persecution  notoriety,  appeared 
with  him  at  Cincinnati,  or  rather  gave  a  seance  at  the 
close  of  Tom's  concert.  Colonel  Oliver,  Tom's  master, 
9 


130  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.   B.    WHITING. 

shocked  the  Orthodox  people  by  telling  them  he  be- 
lieved that  Tom  was  influenced  by  the  spirit  of  Bee- 
thoven." 

March  26.  "I  closed  my  labors  here  last  night. 
Crowded  don't  begin  to  express  the  condition  of  the 
hall.  Fortunately  it  was  a  cool  night.  A  gentleman 
was  here  last  week  from  Memphis,  commissioned  to 
take  me  back  with  him  to  speak  the  next  two  months ; 
but  previous  engagements  prevent.  Colchester  is  creat- 
ing a  great  interest  here.  I  have  seen  his  manifesta- 
tions,—  writing  on  the  arm,  &c,  —  and  they  are  very 
wonderful.  He  is  one  of  the  best  test  mediums  I  ever 
saw,  but  very  negative,  and  subject  to  every  influence 
that  comes  along,  —  earthly  as  well  as  spiritual." 

The  month  of  April  had  been  designated  to  fill  the 
long  deferred  engagement  at  Cincinnati ;  so  thither  he 
went  direct  from  Louisville.  He  found  the  society 
there  progressing  finely. 

Under  date  of  April  9,  he  wrote,  "  Yesterday  we 
held  services  in  the  beautiful  new  Academy  of  Music, 
which  the  society  have  engaged  for  the  coming  year. 
We  had  a  large  audience.  Dr.  Ferguson,  of  Nash- 
ville, was  here,  and  spoke  after  me  last  night.  I  had  a 
very  pleasant  visit  with  him.  They  have  a  good  choir, 
which  adds  much  to  the  meetings,  and  last  Sunday  we 
organized  a  Progressive  Lyceum." 

The  western  department  of  the  "Banner  of  Light" 
was  then  located  at  Cincinnati,  under  the  charge  of 
J.  M.  Peebles,  with  whom  he  spent  such  time  as  the 
engagements  of  both  would  permit  —  a  pleasure  the 
more  fully  appreciated  and  enjoyed  on  account  of  its 
rarity.  It  is  a  misfortune  common  in  some  degree  to 
all  our  public  speakers,  that  they  can  have  but  few 


MUSICAL    COMPOSITIONS.  131 

opportunities  for  unrestricted  converse  with  each 
other.  This  deprivation  he,  in  common  with  others, 
greatly  regretted,  not  only  because  it  came  between 
him  and  friends  whom  he  held  especially  dear,  but  be- 
cause he  believed  that  better  acquaintance  and  harmony 
among  the  workers  would  be  to  the  interest  of  the  cause 
equally  dear  to  all,  as  well  as  conducive  to  individual 
progress.  He  gave  no  week  evening  lectures  during 
this  month,  with  the  exception  of  three  at  Muncie,  Ind., 
as  his  physical  strength  did  not  warrant  him  in  any 
extra  effort,  and  remained  at  and  near  home  through 
the  summer  for  the  same  reason.  In  the  mean  while  he 
busied  himself  composing  new  music  and  seeing  to  its 
publication.  In  addition  to  the  eight  pieces  mentioned, 
as  published  in  1864,  he  had  already  given  to  the  pub- 
lic five  during  1865,  and  before  the  close  of  1866  six 
more  were  added  to  the  number.  Those  issued  in  1865, 
under  the  general  title  of  "Flowers  from  the  West," 
were  "  O,  Hear  my  parting  Sigh,"  "  Medora,"  "  O,  tell 
me  not  of  Fields  of  Glory,"  "  The  Wind  is  in  the  Chest- 
nut Bough,"  and  "Pride  of  Elsinore,"  and  were  pub- 
lished by  Whittemore,  Detroit.  From  this  house  were 
also  issued  the  next  three,  in  1866,  which,  under  the 
heading  of  "  Golden  Memories,"  included  "  Whene'er 
in  Sleep  the  Eyelids  close,"  "Sweet  be  thy  Dreams, 
Allida,"  and  "She  was  a  Rose."  During  the  same 
year  three  others,  "  Spirit  of  Light,  Love,  and  Beauty," 
"Aminta  Mia,"  and  "  Lela  Trefaine,"  were  pub- 
lished by  Whitney,  of  Detroit.  The  last  of  these  was 
delivered  to  the  publisher  previous  to  his  return  to  Cin- 
cinnati in  September.  There  he  found  the  society  not 
so  pleasantly  situated  as  in  April,  —  they  having  sus- 
tained a  heavy  loss  in  the  burning  of  their  hall,  with 


132  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.   WHITING. 

their  organ  and  Lyceum  equipments,  —  but  still  resolved 
not  to  be  daunted  even  by  the  elements.  He  comments 
on  their  bravery  as  follows :  — 

"  The  society  lost  considerably  by  the  fire,  but,  with 
commendable  energy,  have  got  their  Lyceum  newly 
equipped,  and  are  making  arrangements  for  a  new  organ. 
In  the  mean  time  they  have  a  very  good  melodeon, 
which  they  rent.  The  great  disadvantage  they  labor 
under  now  is,  their  place  of  meeting  is  not  nearly  as 
large  or  as  centrally  located  as  the  Academy  of  Music. 
The  latter  place  will  not  be  finished  before  January." 

The  third  week  of  the  month  he  spent  at  Muncie, 
Ind.,  delivering  a  course  of  lectures,  and  had  a  narrow 
chance  of  getting  back  to  Cincinnati  the  following  Sun- 
day, as  travel  was  interrupted,  owing  to  heavy  floods. 
He  went  down  on  the  first  train  for  several  days. 
Indianapolis  was  seemingly  all  afloat,  and  there  was  a 
foot  of  water  in  the  great  depot  still.  With  regard  to 
the  aspect  of  the  country  along  the  route  he  said, 
"  It  is  a  sorry  sight  to  see  the  thousands  of  acres  of  as 
fine  corn  as  ever  stood  up  on  the  river  bottom  lands, 
covered  with  water,  in  some  fields,  even  to  the  tops  of 
the  stalks.  The  loss  to  Ohio  and  Indiana  from  these 
rains  will  be  millions." 

When  brought  face  to  face  with  such  calamities,  the 
thinking  mind  instinctively  asks,  why  such  things  are 
permitted  in  the  economy  of  nature  ;  what  their  neces- 
sity and  use ;  why  fire  and  flood  should  thus  waste  prop- 
erty ;  why  war  and  pestilence  should  destroy  the  lives 
and  blast  the  hopes  of  men.  And  the  universality  of 
the  question  is  the  surest  guarantee  that  it  will  eventu- 
ally be  answered ;  that,  though  our  present  ignorance 
struggles  with  the  problem  vainly  or  with  imperfect 


OLD  FRIENDS.  133 

success,  future  enlightenment  will  furnish  the  solution, 
and  dissipate  the  seeming  mystery. 

After  spending  the  month  of  October  in  Michigan, 
and  at  home,  with  the  exception  of  two  Sundays  at 
Grand  Rapids,  he  again  returned  to  Louisville,  for  the 
last  two  months  of  the  year.  His  health  was  not  very 
good,  but  improved  toward  the  last  of  his  stay,  and,  as 
usual  there,  he  spoke  to  large  audiences ;  or,  to  use  his 
own  expression,  it  often  happened  that  seats  "were  not 
nearly  as  numerous  as  people,  at  the  hall." 

He  had  the  good  luck  to  fall  in  with  good  company, 
on  leaving  home,  in  the  person  of  N.  Frank  White, 
with  whom  he  spent  most  agreeably  the  time,  until 
their  ways  divided  ;  and  he  also  met  quite  a  number  of 
old  friends  during  his  stay  in  Louisville.     He  says,  — 

"  I  have  met,  among  the  rest,  several  persons  whom 
I  used  to  know  in  the  South.  One  of  these,  Colonel  S. 
D.  Hay,  of  Texas,  you  have  heard  me  speak  of  years 
ago.  He  is  one  of  the  oldest  Spiritualists  in  that  state, 
and  was  United  States  Attorney  for  Texas  under  Bu- 
chanan. He  used  to  write  for  the  *  Banner '  a  good 
deal,  seven  or  eight  years  ago.  He  would  like  to  have 
me  go  down  through  that  country  this  winter ;  but  I 
can  not." 

That  travel,  and  the  study  of  human  nature  in  all 
classes  and  under  numerous  phases,  had  not  diminished 
his  keen  appreciation  of  the  humorous,  will  be  readily 
seen  by  the  following  anecdote  and  description,  which 
he  wrote  home  at  this  time,  and  often  repeated  after- 
wards :  — 

M 1  think  I  omitted  to  mention,  in  my  enumeration 
of  our  family  here,  two  important  personages  of  the 
colored   persuasion,   whose   respective   cognomens   are 


134  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

i  Judge  '  Carter  and  4  General '  Lee,  and  who  take  care 
of  team,  buildings,  fires,  black  boots,  &c.  The  *  Judge  ' 
is  an  old  negro,  very  black  and  garrulous,  and  pro- 
foundly superstitious,  —  claims  to  be  something  of  a 
4  Houdoo,'  cures  diseases  by  charms,  and  is  greatly  re- 
spected and  feared  by  many  of  the  colored  people  here- 
about. When  he  don't  want  a  person  to  come  here 
any  more,  he  strews  salt  on  the  pavement  after  they 
have  gone,  and  '  says  over  some  words,'  as  he  calls  it, 
and  has  unbounded  faith  in  the  efficacy  of  the  proceed- 
ing. Like  many  white  men  of  the  same  title,  he  is 
inclined  to  steal  if  he  gets  a  good  chance.  I  keep 
everything  locked  up,  but  I  find  I  have  a  better  protec- 
tion. The  other  day,  when  he  brought  in  some  coal, 
he  asked  me  very  confidentially  if  it  was  a  '  fack  dat 
eberyting  in  dis  yar  room '  was  bewitched.  I  assured 
him  very  solemnly  that  it  was  so,  with  the  exception 
of  the  stove  and  coal-hod.  I  had  left  them  all  right,  so 
he  could  attend  to  the  fire." 

Early  in  December  he  met  with  quite  a  serious  acci- 
dent, the  effects  of  which  troubled  him  several  weeks, 
though  he  made  light  of  it  at  the  time  in  the  following 
fashion :  — 

December  10.  "  The  other  night  I  had  an  unexpected 
fit  of  devotion,  and  knelt  down  in  the  street.  Cause  — 
a  break  in  the  sidewalk  and  ice  thereon.  Result  — 
torn  garments  and  a  knee  quite  badly  cut  with  a  sharp 
stone.  A  Dutch  tailor  —  who,  I  think,  must  have  been 
born  with  a  needle  in  his  hand  —  mended  the  ugly  tear 
in  the  cloth  so  it  can  scarcely  be  seen  even  on  close 
inspection.  I  only  wish  he  could  mend  the  flesh  like- 
wise. The  pavements  are  all  glare  ice.  The  boys 
skate  anywhere,  and  enjoy  it  hugely,  and  a  scared- 


OPPOSITION  TO  SPIRITUALISM.  135 

looking  cutter  is  occasionally  seen  on  the  street.  I 
have  received  some  nice  birthday  presents,  to  remind 
me  that  I  am  growing  venerable." 

December  25.  "  A  merry  Christmas  for  you  all, 
though  I  feel  anything  but  merry,  having  been  kept 
awake  all  night  by  every  species  of  noise  from  musical 
to  infernal.  You  know  they  raise  a  regular  hillaballoo 
here  Christmas,  —  make  a  sort  of  4  4th  of  July  of  it.' 
My  wounds  are  nearly  healed,  and  I  am  feeling  quite 
well,  in  anticipation  of  reaching  home  in  a  few  days 
now." 

During  his  stay  at  Louisville  he  had  considerable 
correspondence  with  regard  to  holding  a  debate  at  St. 
Johns,  Mich.,  under  the  following  circumstances :  — 

In  the  month  of  October,  the  notorious  S.  P.  Leland 
visited  St.  Johns,  delivering  his  usual  series  of  slanders 
against  Spiritualism  and  Spiritualists,  besides  bringing 
forward  the  cheapest  imitations  of  physical  spirit  mani- 
festations, and  declaring  them  to  be  the  same,  and  the 
only  manifestations  produced  through  mediums.  His 
boastful  promises  to  "expose  the  humbug"  created 
quite  an  excitement,  especially  among  those  who  longed 
to  have  something  of  that  kind  done,  but  as  yet  knew 
not  how  to  do  it ;  and  the  committee  appointed  by  the 
opposers  made  haste  to  proclaim  to  the  public,  through 
the  press,  that  Spiritualism  had  been  exposed. 

The  opponents  challenged  the  Spiritualists  to  a  pub- 
lic investigation  of  their  philosophy  and  its  phenomena. 
The  society  of  Spiritualists  promptly  called  a  special 
meeting,  and  passed  the  following  preamble  and  reso- 
lution :  — 

"  Whereas,  The  opponents  of  Spiritualism  in  this  vil- 
lage have  declared  their  willingness  to  investigate  the 


136  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

phenomena  and  philosophy  of  Spiritualism,  and  have 
challenged  such  investigation  either  publicly  or  before 
private  committees,  or  both  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  St.  Johns  Society  of  Spiritualists 
do  accept  such  challenge,  and  that  a  committee  be 
appointed  by  the  society,  to  consult  with  a  like  com- 
mittee of  opponents,  to  settle  the  necessary  prelimina- 
ries, and  to  secure  the  attendance  of  such  persons  as 
may  be  thought  best  to  represent  the  cause  of  Spiritu- 
alism in  such  investigation." 

The  committee,  in  discharge  of  their  duty,  invited 
A.  B.  Whiting  to  defend  their  cause  in  debate,  which 
invitation  he  accepted  in  the  following  letter :  — 

Louisville,  Kt.,  November  10,  1866. 
A.  A.  Wheelock. 

Dear  Sir :  Agreeable  to  your  request  that  I  would 
forward  you  the  terms  on  which  I  would  debate  with 
some  one  of  the  public  opponents  of  Spiritualism,  I 
enclose  you  the  within  propositions  and  rules  of  debate 
for  submission  to  said  public  opponent  or  his  represen- 
tatives. I  will  debate  one  or  both  of  the  propositions 
with  any  respectable  clergyman  in  the  world,  —  I 
affirming  the  first  and  denying  the  second  proposition. 

And,  being  informed  by  you  that  the  Anti-Spiritual- 
ists of  St.  Johns  have  challenged  the  Spiritualists  of 
that  place  to  bring  some  advocate  of  our  cause  to  meet 
them  or  a  representative  of  their  claims  against  Spiritu- 
alism, I  take  this  method  of  signifying  my  acceptance 
of  said  challenge,  under  the  within  rules  of  debate  and 
the  conditions  hereinafter  specified.  The  wording  of 
my  affirmative  proposition  embodies  what  I  am  willing 
to  affirm  as  Spiritualism,  and  if  I  am  called  upon   to 


LETTER   OF  ACCEPTANCE.  137 

take  an  affirmative  position,  should  insist  upon  it,  or 
one  similarly  worded.  The  negative  proposition  may 
be  changed  in  any  way  to  suit  the  special  theory  or 
desire  of  my  opponent ;  provided,  of  course,  that  it  shall 
embody  a  denial  of  the  claims  of  Spiritualism,  and  not 
conflict  with  the  rules  of  debate. 

I  give  you  full  liberty  to  use  my  name  at  any  time 
and  place  as  an  advocate  of  our  religion,  against  all 
honorable  opposers  by  fair  and  open  argument.  For 
dishonest  cavilers  all  argument  is  unavailing ;  and,  my 
friend,  I  have  yet  to  learn  that  any  libelous  slanderer, 
reviler  of  Spiritualists,  renegade  medium,  or  strolling 
mountebank  of  any  description,  —  not  to  mention  hon- 
orable opponents,  —  has  ever  dared  openly  to  assail  the 
moral  character  or  private  reputation  of  the  under- 
signed. Then,  without  pedantry,  I  may  further  say, 
that  there  is  not  a  city  or  town  in  America  where  our 
philosophy  is  known,  but  what  the  Spiritualists  would 
cheerfully  indorse  me  as  an  able  advocate  of  Spiritual- 
ism. Can  the  opposers  bring  a  public  disputant  as  fully 
indorsed  by  his  denomination  ?  I  do  not  ask  that 
much ;  but,  under  the  circumstances,  in  justice  to  the 
cause  of  Spiritualism  and  my  reputation  as  a  public 
speaker,  I  can  not  be  satisfied  with  an  opponent  unless 
he  is  indorsed  by  the  religious  denomination  to  which 
he  belongs,  or  those  whose  cause  he  represents. 
I  remain,  very  truly, 

A.  B.  Whiting. 

The  last  paragraph  of  this  letter  was  called  out  by  the 
circumstance  that  the  Anti-Spiritualists  claimed  the 
privilege  of  reserving  the  name  of  their  proposed  cham- 
pion until  the  time  of  the  debate,  and  was  written  with 


138  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

a  view  to  make  them  fully  responsible  for  the  champion 
whom  they  should  select  under  this  somewhat  unusual 
stretch  of  privilege. 

The  result  of  this  negotiation  —  or  rather  its  non- 
result  —  I  quote  from  the  report  of  the  committee  of 
Spiritualists,  as  published  in  the  St.  Johns  "  Republi- 
can," two  months  later. 

"  Early  in  November  our  opponents  were  notified  of 
our  readiness  to  enter  upon  the  investigation,  and  a 
copy  of  the  resolutions  and  rules  of  debate,  submitted 
by  A.  B.  Whiting,  was  served  upon  their  committee, 
they  promising  that,  if  possible,  they  would  find  some 
scientific,  talented  man  to  represent  their  side,  and 
have  the  discussion  commence.  More  than  two  months 
have  passed  by,  and,  notwithstanding  this  little  village 
has  jive  resident  clergymen,  with  a  Catholic  priest  now 
and  then,  to  represent  old  theology  and  modern  Chris- 
tianity, the  committee  appointed  by  the  opposers  of 
Spiritualism  report  their  inability,  thus  far,  to  find  any 
one  to  engage  in  the  investigation  to  which  the  Spirit- 
ualists were  challenged  by  them." 

The  resolutions  alluded  to  in  the  letter  were  sub- 
stantially the  same  that  he  had  often  debated,  and 
always  stood  ready  to  debate,  though  in  the  later  years 
of  his  life  the  challenge  was  seldom  accepted,  viz. :  — 

1.  "Resolved,  That  the  Scriptures,  history,  philoso- 
phy, and  the  spiritual  demonstrations  of  the  present 
day,  prove  that  the  spirits  of  the  departed  dead  have 
communicated  in  the  past,  and  can,  and  do,  in  the 
present  age,  communicate  with  the  inhabitants  of 
earth."     And, 

2.  "Resolved,  That  modern  Spiritualism  is  a  delu- 
sion, and  the  so-called  spiritual  manifestations  can  be 


RULES   OF  DEBATE.  139 

satisfactorily  accounted  for,    without   admitting   their 
spiritual  origin." 

The  three  rules  of  debate  upon  which  he  invariably 
insisted  were  as  follows :  — 

1.  "  That  any  reflection  upon  the  moral  character  of 
either  of  the  respective  parties  to  which  the  disputants 
belong  shall  be  considered  a  breach  of  courtesy. 

2.  u  That  any  offensive  personality  on  the  part  of 
either  disputant  shall  be  considered  a  breach  of  cour- 
tesy. 

3.  "  There  shall  be  no  decision,  by  vote  or  otherwise, 
as  to  the  merits  of  the  debate,  by  chairman,  committee, 
or  audience  ;  but  each  person  shall  be  left  free  to  form 
his  or  her  opinion,  individually  and  unbiassed." 

Other  rules  were  left  to  a  joint  committee. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

1867-8,  WASHINGTON  AGAIN.  —  DISSOLUTION  OF  THE 
"  THIRTY-NINTH  CONGRESS."  —  DR.  FERGUSON  AND 
OTHER  SPIRITUAL  CELEBRITIES.  —  BUFFALO,  N.  Y. 
ROCHESTER  AND  ELDER  MILES  GRANT. — LOUISVILLE, 

KY.  —  SUN-STROKE.  LN     THE     SICKROOM.  —  J.     O. 

BARRETT  AND  THE  "  SPIRITUAL  HARP."  —  STATE 
SPIRITUALIST  ASSOCIATION  AT  JACKSON,  JANUARY, 
1868.  —  ALCLNDA  WLLHELM  SLADE. 

The  first  two  months  of  1867  he  spent  at  home, 
speaking  at  Albion  a  portion  of  that  time,  and  being 
further  detained  by  sickness  in  the  family.     During  this 


140  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

time  he  assisted  the  Albion  Society  in  getting  up  a 
"  Grand  Festival."  A  proposition  to  publish  a  news- 
paper in  honor  of  the  occasion  aroused  the  fun-loving 
propensities  of  his  school  days,  and  he  readily  assumed 
the  position  of  editor-in-chief,  "  with  a  numerous  and 
able  corps  of  assistants  and  contributors,"  comprising, 
by  actual  count,  two  persons  —  myself  and  a  cousin  (a 
gentleman  a  little  his  junior,  who  was  a  member  of  our 
family  from  1866  to  1870,  now  a  rising  member  of  the 
bar  in  this  county,  but  whose  keen  perception  of  the 
humorous  has  not  been  obscured  by  his  legal  attain- 
ments). I  think  I  can  safely  say,  that  the  result  of  the 
combined  labors  of  these  amateur  Bohemians  literally 
fulfilled  the  declared  intention  of  the  "  chief  scribe,"  to 
produce  "a  paper  that  should  be  a  burlesque  upon 
everything  in  the  shape  of  a  newspaper."  Less  than 
two  days  was  allotted  us  to  get  the  copy  ready,  but,  as 
telegrams,  foreign  correspondence,  and  thrilling  items, 
were  all  alike  manufactured  within  the  same  local  office, 
as,  it  is  said,  often  happens  in  the  history  of  more  pre- 
tentious sheets,  we  progressed  rapidly,  and  had  a  merry 
time  withal.  I  mention  this  little  incident,  not  only 
because  it  holds  for  me  a  pleasant  memory,  but  as  an 
instance  of  the  zeal  with  which  my  brother  was  wont 
to  devote  himself  to  the  business  in  hand,  however 
trivial  it  might  be.  This  promptness  and  thoroughness 
in  the  execution  of  any  design  formed,  or  charge 
assumed,  was  eminently  characteristic  of  his  nature. 
He  was  scrupulously  punctual  on  all  occasions,  and 
nothing  annoyed  him  more  than  lack  of  punctuality 
in  others.  In  all  his  travels  he  was  never  late  for  a 
train,  unless  detained  by  the  delay  or  negligence  of 
some  other  person. 


WASHINGTON  AGAIN.  141 

The  last  of  February  he  again  left  home  for  Wash- 
ington, calling  by  the  way  on  Warren  Chase,  at  the 
New  York  office  of  the  "Banner  of  Light,"  and  arriv- 
ing at  the  capital  in  time  to  open  his  engagement  the 
first  Sunday  of  March.  He  found  many  prominent 
Spiritualists  gathered  together  in  the  city,  from  various 
accidental  causes,  a  condensed  account  of  whom,  to- 
gether with  one  or  two  other  notes  that  may  be  of 
interest,  I  will  transcribe  from  his  letters. 

March  6.  "There  are  a  great  many  Spiritualist 
celebrities  in  Washington  at  present,  though  I  regret  to 
say,  that  the  greatest  man  among  them  all  is  very  ill  at 
present.  I  allude  to  Dr.  Ferguson.  He  is  suffering 
terribly  with  necrosis  of  the  bone  of  the  leg,  and  seems 
to  get  no  permanent  relief  from  anything.  He  was  at 
the  President's,  but  about  a  week  ago  Major  Chor- 
penning  had  him  brought  down  to  his  residence,  where 
he  could  be  more  quiet.  John  M.  Spear  and  wife  — 
just  from  London  —  are  stopping  at  the  same  place. 
Dr.  John  Mayhew,  from  Minnesota,  Mrs.  Morrell,  a 
test  medium,  from  Baltimore,  and  a  number  of  others 
are,  like  myself,  here  temporarily,  besides  Thomas  Gales 
Forster  and  others  who  reside  here,  making  quite  a 
phalanx  altogether. 

"  Mrs.  Spear  has  a  beautiful  photograph  album, 
presented  her  by  Lady  Henrietta  Vance,  which  con- 
tains portraits  of  the  principal  spiritual  notables  of 
England,  and  some  from  other  countries. 

"  About  the  finest  looking  old  gentleman  in  the  crowd 
is  William  Howitt.  Among  the  number  are  Lord  Bury, 
Sir  Thomas  Brevier,  Bulwer,  Professor  De  Morgan, 
Dr.  Ashburner,  Robert  Cooper  —  editor  "  Spiritual 
Times," — Benjamin  Coleman — editor  "Spiritual  Mag- 


142  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A    B.    WHITING. 

azine," —  Allen  Kardec — President  Spiritual  Bureau  of 
France,  Count  Constantine  Wittig,  of  Breslau,  Prussia, 
who  has  translated  Davis'  and  Edmunds'  works  into 
German,  and  the  Russian  Prince,  Demidorf,  who  has 
translated  many  spiritual  documents  into  the  Russian 
language.  I  was  very  much  interested  in  looking  over 
this  album,  and  reviewing  the  history  of  the  originals  of 
the  pictures,  with  several  of  whom  I  have,  as  you  know, 
corresponded. 

"  I  witnessed  the  expiring  groans  of  the  Thirty-ninth 
Congress  on  Monday,  also  the  incoming  of  that  terri- 
ble Fortieth  Congress,  which,  everybody  thinks,  will 
attempt  to  depose  the  President.  It  may  please  you  to 
know  that,  in  my  opinion,  John  Morrissey,  late  of  the 
P.  R.,  is  one  of  the  finest  looking  men  in  the  new  Congress. 
He  would  be  called  a  fine  looking  man  anywhere.  Butler 
is,  of  course,  the  ugliest,  and,  I  think,  is  rather  proud 
of  the  distinction.  The  political  atmosphere  is  in  a  very 
feverish  and  excited  condition,  and  the  general  opinion 
seems  to  be  that  we  are  on  the  eve  of  a  tremendous 
smashing  up.     All  we  can  do  is  to  wait  and  see." 

March  11,  "  Dr.  Ferguson  is  much  better  ;  was 
able  to  come  down  to  the  parlor,  and  make  a  short 

speech  at  the  reception  at  Major  C 's  last  Friday. 

There  were  about  one  hundred  present,  some  from 
nearly  every  State  in  the  Union.  Among  the  late 
arrivals  are  Dr.  Rose  and  Mr.  Merriman,  of  Memphis." 

After  his  return  from  Washington,  in  the  first  week 
of  April,  he  spent  two  idle,  yet  busy,  months  at  home, 
superintending  some  repairs  and  improvements,  which 
he  had  long  contemplated,  and  lightening  for  me  the 
suffering  and  inconvenience  occasioned  by  a  disabled 
right  arm.     I  count  it  among  the  curious  compensations 


VISITS    TO    VARIOUS  PLACES.  143 

which  time  brings  for  sorrow  and  suffering,  that  the 
halo  of  love  and  sympathy,  which  illumined  for  us  some 
darkened  day,  grows  ever  brighter  with  the  gathering 
years,  until  the  pain  and  gloom  become  glorified  to  our 
mental  vision,  and  dwell  with  us  only  as  a  dear  and 
tender  memory.  Thus  do  the  tendrils  of  my  thought 
cling  to  that  time  when  he,  "  from  whom  death  can 
divide  me  never,"  lent  to  my  weakness,  literally,  a 
strong  right  hand. 

In  the  month  of  June  following,  he  revisited  Buffalo, 
N.  Y.,  after  a  lapse  of  eleven  years.  He  found  that 
there,  as  elsewhere,  time  had  wrought  many  changes. 
Few  of  the  old  Spiritualists  were  left,  while  many  had 
passed  on  to  the  higher  life.  He  remained  through  the 
month,  and  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the  society  en- 
abled to  establish  itself  in  a  more  commodious  hall,  and 
in  a  fair  way  to  future  prosperity. 

After  a  short  visit  home,  including  a  brief  lecturing 
trip  to  Almont,  Mich.,  he  returned  eastward  again  to 
Rochester,  where  his  engagement  extended  to  the  last 
of  August,  the  lectures  being  given  on  Sunday  and 
Thursday  evenings,  instead  of,  as  usual,  two  on  Sun- 
day. This  arrangement  was  found  a  very  good  one, 
both  for  speaker  and  society,  it  being  easier  for  the 
former,  and  giving  the  latter  the  Sunday  afternoons  for 
the  use  of  the  Lyceum,  without  the  fatigue  of  three 
sessions  in  the  day.  He  was  much  pleased  with  the 
Lyceum  children,  not  only  for  their  proficiency  in  the 
various  exercises,  but  still  more  for  the  spirit  of  har- 
mony which  seemed  to  prevail  among  them. 

The  last  Saturday  and  Sunday  of  July  he  participated 
in  the  exercises  of  the  "  Medium  and  Speakers'  Con- 
vention," held  there,  being  appointed  chairman  of  the 


144  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.  WHITING. 

committee  on  resolutions,  and  also  delivering  the  closing 
address  of  the  convention.  He  took  for  his  subject  on 
that  occasion  "  Spiritualism  in  the  Middle  Ages." 

During  the  latter  part  of  his  engagement  in  Rochester, 
the  Adventists,  under  the  lead  of  Elder  Miles  Grant,  of 
Boston,  had  pitched  their  tent  in  a  vacant  lot  in  the 
city,  and  were  holding  forth  nightly  on  the  "  Sleep  of 
the  Dead,"  "  Resurrection,"  "  Devilism,"  "  Conflagra- 
tion of  the  World,"  and  kindred  themes.  Efforts  were 
made  to  bring  about  a  discussion  with  Elder  Grant, 
who  had  only  a  short  time  previously  been  engaged  in 
a  debate  with  J.  G.  Fish ;  a  question  was  agreed  upon, 
substantially  the  same  as  that  discussed  with  Elder 
Stephenson  at  Grand  Rapids,  and  my  brother  offered  to 
devote  to  the  debate  the  only  time  remaining  before  he 
was  obliged  to  leave  to  fulfill  engagements  in  the  west. 
The  society  even  volunteered  to  give  up  their  regular 
Sunday  evening  lecture,  in  order  to  allow  more  time  ; 
but  Elder  Grant  signified  his  inability  to  attend  to  it  at 
that  time  "  on  account  of  the  tent  meeting,"  and  hence 
it  was  unavoidably  postponed  to  some  more  convenient 
season.  I  may  as  well  state  here  that  that  auspicious 
period  never  arrived. 

His  engagement  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  for  the  ensuing 
month  (September)  passed  without  especial  incident, 
as  far  as  his  public  labors  were  concerned,  but  was 
marked  by  one  fraught  with  great  physical  discomfort, 
and  some  danger.  He  was  induced  by  the  solicitations 
of  friends,  and  his  own  love  of  fine  horses  and  eques- 
trian skill,  to  visit  the  State  Fair  grounds  one  day  dur- 
ing the  annual  exhibition.  The  day  was  excessively 
warm,  so  much  so  that  many  cases  of  sunstroke 
occurred.     He  had  always  been  in  the  habit  of  con- 


HOME  AGAIN.  145 

sidering  himself  almost  proof  against  heat,  and  his  cool 
manner  of  declaring  himself  "just  comfortable,"  in  a 
temperature  which  was  to  ordinary  people  barely  endur- 
able, had  often  gained  him  the  appellation  of  "  Salaman- 
der ; "  but  on  this  occasion  he  was  so  overcome  by  the 
heat  as  to  be  very  sick  for  several  days;  nor  was  he 
ever  again  able  to  endure  the  heat  as  formerly.  He 
had  to  be  especially  careful  about  riding  in  the  hot  sun, 
as  it  was  extremely  liable  to  induce  the  old  symptoms 
of  dizziness  and  nausea.  This  susceptibility,  however, 
lessened  each  year,  and  would  probably,  in  time,  have 
passed  away  entirely. 

He  came  home  in  October,  and  with  the  exception 
of  a  few  lectures  given  in  Battle  Creek  and  other 
neighboring  towns,  did  not  leave  again  until  the  fol- 
lowing February,  being  compelled  to  cancel  his  engage- 
ments for  the  intermediate  months  on  account  of  the 
long  and  dangerous  illness  of  our  mother. 

Many  precious  memories  cluster  round  the  days  of 
anxiety  and  nights  of  watching,  which  we  shared 
through  long  weeks,  while  our  combined  magnetic 
strength,  re-enforced  by  angel  helpers,  held  in  suspense 
the  trembling  balances  wherein  life  and  death  contend- 
ed for  the  mastery.  At  length,  after  passing  so  near 
the  shining  shore  that  she  was  able  to  catch  a  vivid 
glimpse  of  its  realities,  the  life-bark,  which  had  drifted 
almost  beyond  our  reach,  was  again  moored  to  the 
hither  side. 

During  our  mother's  convalescence,  he  had  the 
pleasure  of  entertaining  at  our  home  Rev.  J.  O.  Barrett, 
then  acting  as  missionary  agent  for  the  Michigan  Asso- 
ciation of  Spiritualists,  and  who  was  also  engaged,  with 
Messrs.  Peebles  and  Bailey,  in  collecting  material  for 
10 


146  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.   B.    WHITING. 

the  "Spiritual  Harp,"  which  was  published  the  ensu- 
ing summer.  My  brother  furnished  two  pieces  of 
music  for  the  book,  entitled,  respectively,  "  Strike  the 
Harp  in  Nature's  Praise,"  and  "  Waiting,  only  waiting." 

One  of  the  pieces  contributed  by  me  was,  by  mis- 
take, credited  to  him  in  the  index  of  the  work,  and 
never  corrected,  as  it  made  no  difference  to  either  of  us  ; 
and  I  only  mention  it  now  from  the  fact  that  the  query 
might  arise,  why  I  had  omitted  this  from  the  list  of  his 
compositions,  and  I  might,  perhaps,  be  accused  of  neg- 
ligence in  so  doing. 

In  January,  1868,  he  attended  the  meeting  of  the 
State  Spiritual  Association,  at  Jackson,  it  being  the 
third  session  of  that  body.  He  had  been  a  prominent 
worker  in  behalf  of  business  organization  among  Spirit- 
ualists from  the  first,  and  on  this  occasion  delivered  the 
opening  speech  of  the  convention  upon  that  subject. 
The  following  extract,  from  the  report  of  a  correspond- 
ent of  the  secular  press,  gives  but  a  faint  idea  of  the 
address,  but  embodies  his  main  positions  upon  that 
question,  and  is  included  here  for  that  reason. 

"  Mr.  A.  B.  Whiting,  of  Albion,  then  delivered  the 
opening  speech  substantially  as  follows :  — 

"  •  I  take  it  not  as  a  personal  compliment  to  myself 
that  I  am  called  upon  to  address  you  this  evening,  but 
rather  as  a  recognition  of  the  number  of  years  I  have 
labored  in  this  cause.  I  stand,  to-night,  within  a  short 
distance  of  the  place  where  I  emerged  into  the  light  of 
this  great  philosophy.  We  have  met  for  the  purpose 
of  forming  an  organization,  to  the  end  that  we  may  pro- 
mulgate that  gospel  of  truth  which  we  all  so  love. 
Spiritualism  has  grown  up  around  and  about  us,  until 
it  has  arrived  from  a  feeble  band,  few  in  numbers,  to  a 


EXTRACT  FROM  ADDRESS  AT  JACKSON.     147 

great  community,  comprising  a  large  and  intelligent 
part  of  society.  This  is  cheering  to  all  who  love  this 
glorious  philosophy.  .  .  .  The  truth  embodied  in 
this  philosophy  shows  us  the  future  of  those  we  love  — 
opens  to  our  mortal  vision  a  glimpse  of  that  futurity 
toward  which  we  are  all  merging.  It  becomes  necessa- 
ry to  consider,  not  the  facts  of  Spiritualism,  for  these 
are  proven  beyond  cavil.  There  are  thousands  whose 
testimony  is  proof  of  the  truth  of  spiritual  manifesta- 
tions. We  can  only  say  to  scoffers,  as  we  have  a  right 
to  say,  until  they  can  account  for  little  raps,  the  A 
in  the  alphabet  of  Spiritualism,  they  have  no  right 
to  deprecate  our  philosophy,  or  even  to  look  deeper 
into  its  mysteries.  We  are  all  indebted  to  this  phi- 
losophy for  our  redemption  from  the  creeds  and  fallacies 
through  which  we  have  so  long  groped  our  mazy  way. 
We  are  not  here  to  overthrow  the  doctrines  of  inspira- 
tion, but  rather  to  build  them  up  ;  for  there  can  be  no 
true  Spiritualism  until  revelation  is  acceded  to.  We 
claim,  however,  that  creeds  and  religions  are  transient 
and  progressive.  Systems  and  creeds  are  like  garments, 
to  be  worn  for  a  season,  then  to  be  exchanged  for  some- 
thing newer  and  better.  As  we  cast  our  eye  over  the 
page  of  history,  we  there  see  how  all  earthly  things 
fade  ;  how  churches,  like  governments,  have  risen  and 
fallen.  The  central  idea  of  all  religions,  in  times  past 
and  present,  was  Spiritualism.  The  mysteries  of  the 
inner  temple  of  the  priests  of  Isis,  the  Indian  mytholo- 
gies, the  appearance  of  Moses  and  Elias  on  the  mount, 
the  visions  of  John  at  Patmos,  all  prove  the  universal- 
ity and  grandeur  of  the  spiritualistic  idea.  The  early 
fathers  of  the  church,  until  the  time  of  the  Nicene 
Council,    taught    and    recognized    spirit     communion. 


148  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

Krome  says,  "  You  can  not  wall  up  the  saints  in  their 
graves  ;  will  ye  wall  up  the  souls  of  the  dead  ?  They 
are  everywhere  present  and  always  with  you." 

"  '  The  Catholic,  more  consistent  than  the  Protestant, 
has  never  yet  relinquished  the  spiritualistic  idea,  and 
the  revelations  to,  and  inspiration  of,  their  saints.  In 
times  past  the  state  exercised  great  tyranny  over  the 
church;  but  the  time  is  drawing  near  when  church 
and  state  will  be  divorced.  America,  where  religious 
freedom  has  been  so  happily  planted,  has  taken  the  lead 
in  this  divorcement.' 

"  He  then  presented  Spiritualism  under  three  forms, 
viz. :  external  manifestations,  philosophy,  and  religion, 
and  treated  of  these  at  some  length.  He  then  im- 
pressed upon  his  hearers  the  great  importance  of  or- 
ganizing, appealing  to  them  to  throw  aside  their  party 
prejudices,  and  aid  in  gathering  together  the  millions  of 
Spiritualists,  scattered  and  disbanded  for  want  of  such 
organization.  The  Spiritualists  of  America  have  hitherto 
acted  in  an  individual  capacity,  but  now  the  time  has 
come  for  building  up  an  outward  temple.  For  this  pur- 
pose it  is  necessary  that  there  be  local,  state,  and  grand 
associations,  not  for  the  purpose  of  propagating  creeds 
or  articles  of  faith,  but  to  send  missionaries  to  enlighten 
the  ignorant  and  break  down  the  prejudices  that  exist 
against  us,  and  to  draw  together  our  scattered  bands 
into  a  solid  phalanx. 

"  He  then  gave  some  statistics,  which,  he  said,  he 
regretted  must  be  taken  from  their  enemies,  for  the 
want  of  proper  data  among  themselves.  From  the 
Catholic  Convention,  held  at  Baltimore,  the  following 
statistics  are  taken :  4  There  are  from  ten  million  to 
eleven  million  Spiritualists  in  the  United  States,  a  num- 


ADDRESS  AT  JACKSON,  149 

ber  which  exceeds  the  combined  communicants  of  all 
other  churches.'  Upon  one  half  of  this  number  as  a 
basis,  the  speaker  said  that  this  convention  represented 
one  hundred  thousand  in  Michigan.  And  from  these 
numbers  did  they  not  see  that,  had  they  an  organiza- 
tion, they  would  bring  in  thousands,  who,  hearing  their 
lectures  and  seeing  their  manifestations,  were  inquiring, 
Where  is  your  organization  ?  What  do  you  propose  to 
do  f  They  would  then  be  enabled  to  support  our  mis- 
sionaries and  mediums,  and  give  our  doctrines  free  to  the 
people.  This  organization  would  also  repel  the  perse- 
cution which  hitherto,  as  individuals,  they  had  received. 
Ten  millions  of  people  were  not  to  be  persecuted. 

"  He  then  made  a  fervid  appeal  to  all  free  thinkers, 
saying  that  what  was  good  in  the  Catholic  church,  the 
Protestant  denominations,  and  all  religions  and  creeds 
whatsoever,  was  to  be  found  in  the  spiritualistic 
philosophy.  He  remembered  well  the  time  when  the 
Methodists  were  derided  and  persecuted  worse  than  the 
Spiritualists  had  ever  been ;  but  by  their  energy  and 
persistence,  they  had  grown  to  be  at  once  powerful 
and  respectable.  The  Jesuits  had  for  ages  kept  up 
the  crumbling  foundations  of  the  Catholic  church  by 
the  force  of  their  secret  workings.  He  commended 
the  persistence  and  energy  of  the  one  and  the  unity  of 
the  other,  as  elements  which  would  make  Spiritualism 
more  powerful  than  both  combined.  The  spirits  would 
aid  them  in  doing  the  work,  and  doing  it  faithfully ;  but 
they  could  not  build  a  temple  or  perfect  an  organization 
without  earthly  aid  and  co-operation. 

"  The  speech  throughout  was  of  the  most  vigorous 
and  eloquent  character,  and  was  listened  to  with  close 
attention." 


150  BIOGRAPHY   OF  A.  B.   WHITING. 

He  spoke  again,  the  last  evening  of  the  convention, 
from  the  text,  "  To  what  do  all  these  things  tend  ?  " 

At  this  convention  were  gathered  an  unusual  number 
of  the  public  advocates  of  Spiritualism,  among  whom 
was  another  who  has  since  passed  on  to  the  higher  life, 
—  Mrs.  Alcinda  W.  Slade,  —  who  then,  for  the  first  time, 
assumed  her  place  in  the  front  rank  of  the  Spiritualists 
of  Michigan.  Not  many  months  later,  the  subject  of 
this  memoir  was  called  on  to  speak  the  last  farewell 
over  the  earthly  remains  of  this  efficient  co-laborer. 
Her  body  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  cemetery  at  Albion, 
where  his  own  has  since  been  deposited. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

BUFFALO.  — ABKAHAM  JAMES. —  GENESEE  CONFERENCE. 

—  HOME. —  THE  "NEW  CONSTITUTION." — ITS  DE- 
FEAT. —  A  PLEASURE  TRIP,  WITH  VARIATIONS.  — 
CAPE  COD   SPIRITUALIST   CAMP-MEETING.  —  MUSICAL 

DATA.  PRESIDENTIAL    CAMPAIGN    OF   1868.  —  HIS 

PARTICIPATION  AND  POPULARITY  THEREIN.  —  AT 
THE  GREAT  MASS  MEETINGS  OF  THIS  STATE.  —  FINAL 
TRIUMPH  AT  JACKSON. — LAST  GREAT  EFFORT  UPON 
THE  POLITICAL  ROSTRUM.  —  PHYSICAL  EXHAUSTION. 

—  ANOTHER   DEBATE   WHICH  DID   NOT   COME   OFF. 

In  the  month  of  February,  1868,  he  lectured  again 
for  the  Spiritualist  Society  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  —  with 
what  success  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that,  al- 


CONFERENCE    OF  SPIRITUALISTS.  151 

though  the  first  two  Sundays  were  very  stormy,  he 
spoke  to  crowded  houses,  causing  him  to  make  the 
remark  that  he  did  not  know  what  they  would  do  if  it 
should  come  a  pleasant  Sunday. 

Dr.  Slade  visited  Buffalo  during  his  stay,  and  another 
well-known  medium,  Abraham  James,  was  also  there 
over  one  Sunday.  Of  the  latter  he  wrote  home  the 
following  facts,  under  date  of  February  17  :  — 

14  You  remember  hearing  and  reading  of  Abraham 
James,  the  medium  who  discovered  the  Chicago  Arte- 
sian wells.  He  has  been,  for  the  last  six  months, 
engaged  in  an  oil  well  near  Titusville,  Pa.  Last  sum- 
mer he  made  a  public  prophecy  about  it  at  the  conven- 
tion at  Rochester,  and  desired  it  put  on  record.  Feb- 
ruary 1,  they  struck  oil  at  precisely  the  depth  foretold, 
and  the  well  is  now  flowing  one  hundred  barrels  and 
upward  of  oil  a  day.  He  was  here  last  night,  and  gave 
a  little  history  of  the  matter  to  the  audience  after 
lecture.' ' 

The  Genesee  Conference  of  Spiritualists  met  in  con- 
vention at  Buffalo  the  18th  and  19th.  He  participated 
in  the  exercises,  and  delivered  two  addresses  during  the 
sessions,  and  also  sang,  by  particular  request,  one  or 
two  pieces  of  his  composition.  In  his  closing  lecture  — 
as  reported  in  the  proceedings  of  the  convention  —  he 
concluded  with  an  exhortation  to  fidelity  to  the  trust 
committed  to  our  times,  which  was  characterized  as 
"  searching,  pungent,  and  persuasive,"  the  following 
being  the  final  paragraph :  — 

"  If  we  prove  recreant,  the  future  historic  page  must 
bear  for  us  a  most  ignoble  record.  Our  times  are  more 
highly  favored  than  any  preceding,  and  more  fully 
fraught  with  all  the  resources  of  wealth,  talent,  and  all 


152  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.  WHITING. 

the  elements  of  successful  conquest.  Shall  the  people 
of  the  twenty-second  and  twenty-third  centuries  have 
to  say  of  those  of  the  nineteenth,  •  They  had  the  most 
glorious,  angelic  advent  and  auxiliaries  of  any  preced- 
ing age,  but  by  reason  of  their  apathy  and  neglect  the 
clouds  of  religious  bigotry  again  enshrouded  the  nations 
in  a  night  of  gloom.'  How  much  better  if  they  are 
able  to  say,  '  Those  highly-favored  people  comprehend- 
ed their  epoch,  welcomed  gratefully  and  appreciated 
the  truths  taught  in  the  "ministry  of  angels,"  and  in 
a  spirit  of  self-denial  put  forth  opportune  efforts,  by 
means  of  which  superstition  was  banished,  and  the  mil- 
lennium of  spiritual  liberty  was  ushered  in  —  a  price- 
less heritage  to  all  nations  and  generations.'  " 

He  was  detained  in  Buffalo  some  days,  after  the  close 
of  his  engagement,  by  the  "great  snow-storm"  of 
March  1st;  had  a  very  disagreeable  time  in  getting 
through  at  last,  and  was  laid  up  with  a  severe  cold  in 
consequence.  This  was  his  last  long  journey  for  the 
season.  He  spoke  a  number  of  times  during  the  month, 
however,  upon  political  and  governmental  questions,  in 
this  and  various  other  places  in  the  state,  in  opposition 
to  a  proposed  new  constitution  for  the  state,  which  was 
to  be  submitted  to  the  people  at  the  spring  elections. 

He  founded  his  objections  to  the  instrument  pre- 
sented for  adoption  on  the  general  ground  that  it  was 
by  no  means  an  improvement  on  the  old,  and  also  on 
several  special  grounds,  one  of  which  was,  that  the 
provisions  for  religious  liberty  were  not  as  well  denned 
as  in  the  existing  constitution,  but  were  so  framed  as  to 
admit  of  their  being  warped  to  suit  the  plans  of  a  party 
who  were  even  then  working  for  the  now  well-known 
object  of  incorporating  into  the  constitutions  of  the  land 


THE  NEW  CONSTITUTION.  153 

a  recognition  of  God,  Jesus,  and  religion,  as  seen  through 
their  theologic  spectacles.  Their  design  in  this  instance 
was  so  hidden  under  the  appearance  of  liberality,  that 
many,  at  the  first  glance,  failed  to  notice  how  adroitly 
the  doorway  had  been  left  open  for  encroachments  upon 
the  people's  rights.  He  also  opposed  the  clause  con- 
ferring suffrage  upon  negroes,  as  an  insult  to  the  intel- 
ligent white  women  of  the  state,  and  for  other  reasons 
which  he  set  forth  at  length,  and  disapproved  of  certain 
sumptuary  provisions,  which,  though  introduced  osten- 
sibly to  promote  temperance,  he  deemed  rather  calcu- 
lated to  foster  an  odious  system  of  espionage  than  to 
promote  the  end  sought.  A  strong  opposition  was 
aroused,  and  the  "New  Constitution  "  was  defeated,  to 
the  astonishment  of  many  who  had  expected  to  see  it" 
adopted  as  a  matter  of  course,  because  it  was  framed  by 
the  representatives  of  a  party  holding  a  large  majority 
in  the  state.  It  was  noticed  as  a  fact  highly  compli- 
mentary both  to  him  and  to  the  capacity  of  the  people 
to  appreciate  principles  when  clearly  presented  to  their 
minds,  that  in  those  localities  where  he  gave  his  expo- 
sition of  the  peculiar  beauties  (?)  of  the  proposed  in- 
strument, particularly  as  regarded  the  religious  view  of 
the  matter,  its  defeat  on  the  popular  vote  was  the  most 
complete  and  overwhelming.  Thus  it  appears  that, 
though  the  fame  of  an  orator  may  be  to  some  extent 
ephemeral,  as  is  often  remarked,  yet  it  is  not  always 
unrewarded  by  practical  results  which  endure,  the 
fittest  guerdon  of  well-directed  effort. 

The  three  ensuing  months  he  spent  mostly  at  home, 
lecturing  Sundays  a  portion  of  the  time  at  Marshall, 
and  attending  also  several  county  conventions  in  the 
state. 


154  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

In  July,  feeling  the  need  of  rest,  he  determined  upon 
a  trip  to  the  sea-shore,  and,  accompanied  by  mother 
and  myself,  set  out  with  the  intention  of  spending  two 
months  at  the  shore,  and  in  visiting  our  numerous 
relatives  and  friends  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston.  This 
programme  was  carried  out,  with  a  few  unexpected  ad- 
ditions. He  desired  to  abstain  entirely  from  speaking, 
and  hence  had  given  the  spiritual  press  no  notice  of  his 
movements,  but  one  July  morning  walked  into  the 
"Banner''  office,  surprising  not  only  the  urbane  editor 
thereof,  but  also  J.  O.  Barrett,  whom  he  exhumed  from 
a  heap  of  "  copy,"  where  he  was  working  at  the  Index 
of  the  "Spiritual  Harp."  A  few  weeks  later  we  had 
the  pleasure  of  obtaining  one  of  the  first  copies  of  that 
valuable  work.  In  August,  being  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
"  Cape  Cod  Camp  Meeting,"  he  rashly  ventured  to  hope 
that  he  might  attend  as  a  simple  spectator,  and,  as  he 
was  an  entire  stranger  in  that  region,  mingle  with  the 
crowd  unnoticed.  He  often  laughingly  referred  to  the 
result  afterward,  saying  that  the  next  time  he  tried  to 
travel  incognito  he  should  not  go  to  Cape  Cod  when  all 
Massachusetts  was  there  holding  a  Spiritual  Camp 
Meeting.  On  entering  the  grounds^  about  every  third 
person  saluted  him  by  name,  and,  before  he  had  hardly 
time  to  look  around,  he  was  captured  by  a  Boston 
friend, —  George  A.  Bacon,  I  think  it  was, — and  conduct- 
ed to  the  speaker's  stand  where  he  was  warmly  welcomed. 
He  remained  until  the  close  of  the  meeting,  and  then 
only  escaped  from  the  whole-souled  friends  at  Harwich 
by  promising  to  return  and  lecture  the  ensuing  Sunday, 
which  he  did.  He  was  pressed  by  numerous  other  in- 
vitations, but  the  time  was  drawing  near  when  he  had 
promised  to  return  to  Michigan,  and  therefore  he  was 


MUSICAL  PUBLICATIONS.  155 

obliged  to  decline.  He  was  also  repeatedly  requested 
to  deliver  political  addresses  at  various  places,  as  a 
presidential  campaign  was  in  progress,  but  consented 
only  in  one  instance,  which  was  on  the  occasion  of  a 
flag-raising  at  East  Bridgewater  —  the  scene  of  his  last 
school  days  and  the  residence  of  several  of  our  near 
relatives.  This  was  the  only  political  speech  ever  made 
by  him  in  the  State  of  Massachusetts.  He  enjoyed  the 
time  spent  in  visiting  more  than  I  ever  knew  him  to 
at  any  previous  time,  and  particularly  on  account  of  the 
array  of  musical  talent  with  which  he  was  brought  in 
contact.  He  had  published  another  new  composition 
the  preceding  spring,  — "  Evyrr  Alynn,  or  the  Out- 
cast," —  a  solo  and  chorus  in  chant  style,  which  is  con- 
sidered by  many  as  one  of  his  happiest  efforts  in  the 
musical  line.  In  sharp  contrast  to  this,  he  had  also  just 
composed  a  semi-comic  campaign  song,  entitled,  "  Old 
Dr.  Bonds,"  which  was  issued  by  J.  S.  White  &  Co., 
Marshall,  Mich.,  and  extensively  sung  during  the  can- 
vass, particularly  in  this  state. 

These  were  his  last  musical  publications,  and  on  this, 
his  last  extended  visit  among  his  relatives,  though 
he  called  on  some  of  them  again  the  following  year,  he 
spent  much  time  in  singing  his  various  compositions 
with  me,  and  sometimes  with  a  full  quartet  of  voices 
harmonized  by  the  strong  tie  of  kindred,  and  in  listen- 
ing to  such  singers  as  the  well-known  "  Columbian  Glee 
Club  "  and  other  gifted  amateurs.  Truly  the  "nights 
were  filled  with  music,"  whether  in  town  or  at  the 
shore,  and,  if  "  the  cares  that  invest  the  day"  did  not 
"fold  their  tents  like  the  Arabs,"  and  steal  away  for- 
ever, their  shadows  were  lifted  for  the  time,  that,  while 
the  senses  were  steeped  in  melodious  sound,  the  soul 


156  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.   B.    WHITING. 

might  perceive  something   of  the  innate  beauty  and 
grandeur  of  harmony. 

We  returned  home  the  first  week  in  September,  in 
time  to  attend  the  Yearly  Grove  Meeting  of  the  Albion 
Society  and  Friends,  where  he  -spoke  as  usual.  The 
balance  of  the  month  was  consumed  in  filling  similar 
engagements  in  different  parts  of  the  state.  In  the 
month  of  October,  he  gave  himself  to  the  political  field, 
addressing  the  people  of  the  principal  towns  and  vil- 
lages of  Central  Michigan,  and  also  taking  part  at  sev- 
eral of  the  largest  mass  meetings  ever  held  in  the  state, 
among  which,  those  held  at  Ann  Arbor,  Port  Huron, 
and  Jackson  are  especially  worthy  of  mention.  His 
speeches  —  in  which  he  never  descended  to  personal 
invective  or  abuse  of  opposing  candidates  —  were 
everywhere  received  with  the  utmost  enthusiasm,  and 
are  to-day  mentioned,  not  only  among  the  Democracy, 
but  by  persons  of  all  parties  who  had  opportunities  of 
judging,  as  a  most  remarkable  display  of  the  power  of 
eloquence  to  sway  the  people.  This  magnetic  quality, 
which  enabled  him,  as  it  were,  to  carry  his  audience 
along  with  him,  and  the  remarkable  vocal  power  which 
he  possessed,  made  him  a  great  favorite.  Crowds  so 
large  that  the  majority  of  speakers  could  not  be  heard 
by  one  half  those  assembled,  and  hence  could  not  hope 
for  quiet,  would  listen  to  him  for  two  hours  in  silence, 
only  interrupted  by  applause.  Thus  it  happened  that, 
at  the  large  meetings,  though  many  speakers  might  be 
present,  much  of  the  hardest  work  fell  upon  him,  par- 
ticularly toward  the  close,  when  some  were  exhausted 
by  excessive  speaking  in  the  open  air.  This  was 
noticeably  the  case  at  Jackson,  at  the  last  rally,  the 
week  preceding  the  election,  when,  out  of  six  speakers, 


LECTURES  AT  SOUTH  BEND.  157 

he  was  the  only  one  able  to  make  himself  heard  for  any 
length  of  time  ;  in  consequence  of  which  he  was  obliged 
to  address  both  the  immense  concourse  at  the  Fair 
Grounds  in  the  afternoon  and  the  crowd  at  the  wigwam 
in  the  evening.  Although  he  did  this  with  apparent 
ease,  and,  it  is  said,  surpassed  on  this  occasion  all  pre- 
vious efforts,  the  strain  upon  his  strength  was  too  great, 
and  outraged  Nature  did  not  fail  to  vindicate  her  rights, 
and  exact  rest,  as  the  atonement  for  over-exertion.  He 
spoke  no  more  in  that  campaign,  being  obliged  to  recall 
the  remainder  of  his  appointments;  nor  did  he  ever 
again  put  forth  any  elaborate  effort  in  the  political  field. 

In  the  month  of  December,  having  partially  recovered 
from  the  illness  induced  by  physical  exhaustion,  he  went 
to  South  Bend,  Ind.,  to  deliver  a  course  of  lectures. 
Just  as  he  was  leaving  the  place  he  received  a  com- 
munication from  the  pastor  of  the  Christian  Church, 
Rev.  W.  B.  Hendryx,  taking  exceptions  to  the  idea,  as 
broached  by  him  in  the  course  of  his  lectures,  that  the 
teachings  and  phenomena  of  Spiritualism  were  in  many 
respects  identical  with  those  of  Jesus  and  the  apostles, 
and  signifying  a  readiness  to  debate  that  proposition. 
To  this  he  replied  that  he  would  willingly  discuss,  not 
only  that  point,  but  the  entire  subject  as  contained  in 
the  following  resolution,  which  is  substantially  the  same 
that  he  had  declared  himself  willing  to  defend  upon  on 
all  occasions. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  Scriptures,  history,  and  the  tes- 
timony of  reliable  living  witnesses,  prove  that  the 
spirits  of  departed  human  beings  have  communicated 
in  the  past,  and  do  still  hold  intercourse  with  the  in- 
habitants of  earth." 

To  this  proposition  Mr.  Hendryx   demurred   as   too 


158  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

broad,  and,  in  response  to  a  request  that  he  should  af- 
firm a  proposition  as  opposed  to  Spiritualism,  sent  this, 
viz. :  "  That  Modern  Spiritism  is  anti-Christian,  and 
subversive  of  the  peace,  happiness,  and  perpetuity  of 
moral  and  religious  society." 

This  Mr.  Whiting  agreed  to  accept,  overlooking  the 
implied  slur  upon  ten  millions  of  Spiritualists,  provided 
Mr.  Hendryx  would  also  accept  his  affirmation,  and  dis- 
cuss each  in  succession.  He  also  empowered  the  friends 
who  were  acting  in  his  behalf  to  offer  the  reverend 
gentleman  a  more  restricted  affirmation,  if  they  saw  fit, 
in  this  form :  — 

"  Resolved,  That  the  Bible  sustains  Modern  Spiritual- 
ism in  all  of  its  phases,  both  as  to  spirit  communion  and 
the  state  of  the  dead." 

With  these  liberal  concessions  upon  his  part  Mr. 
Hendryx  was  not  satisfied ;  and,  as  the  Spiritualists  of 
South  Bend  refused  to  concur  in  any  further  limitations, 
even  if  he  were  willing  to  submit  to  them,  the  arrange- 
ment was  not  consummated. 


VISIT  TO  PORTLAND.  159 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

1869,  1870. 

LAST  VISITS  TO  NEW  ENGLAND,  PHILADELPHIA,  AND 
LOUISVILLE.  —  THE  LAST  BIRTHDAY. — A  NEW  YEAR'S 
GIFT,   AND  ITS  USEFULNESS. — DAYS  OF  SUFFERING. 

The  early  part  of  the  year  1869  he  spent  mostly  at 
home,  on  account  of  impaired  health,  but,  the  last  of 
April,  was  sufficiently  recovered  to  venture  on  a  long 
journey,  and  went  to  fill  the  desk  of  the  Portland  (Me.) 
Society  during  the  month  of  May.  He  was  unfortunate 
in  having  bad  weather  the  first  two  Sundays,  and,  as 
the  city  was  too  godly  to  permit  the  running  of  street 
cars  on  that  day,  people  could  not  get  to  meeting  very 
conveniently.    He  says,  concerning  this  matter,  — 

"  My  first  Sunday  here  was  marked  by  the  awfulest 
rain-storm  possible.  About  two  inches  of  snow  had 
fallen  in  the  morning,  and  the  wind  blew  a  gale,  which 
continued  with  rain  all  day.  This  being  a  very  pious 
city  (in  its  own  estimation),  the  street  cars  don't  run 
Sunday ;  so  I  had  the  pleasure  of  walking  a  mile  to  the 
hall,  and  got  somewhat  wet,  but,  wonderful  to  relate, 
I  am  not  sick,  —  except  of  the  weather,  —  and  that  is 
enough  to  disgust  a  respectable  dog. 

"  The  Lyceum  is  large  and  well  disciplined.  The 
brothers  Davenport  and  William  Fay  are  here.     Their 


160  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.  WHITING. 

demonstrations  are  just  as  reported  in  the  "Banner," 
going  ahead  of  the  descriptions  rather,  of  the  two. 

The  latter  part  of  his  stay  was  more  pleasant  in  an 
external  point  of  view,  and  he  left  with  some  regret, 
having  just  begun  to  feel  at  home  again  in  this  city, 
where  he  had  formerly  spent  many  happy  days.  The 
status  of  things  spiritual  in  Portland,  as  they  appeared 
to  him  at  this  time,  may  be  gathered  from  the  following 
extract  from  a  characteristic  letter,  written  by  him  to 
the  "  Present  Age,"  and  published  in  that  paper :  — 

"  The  Portland  Spiritual  Association  was  organized 
in  1854,  and  has  retained  its  organization  intact  to  the 
present  time,  being  one  of  the  oldest  organized  spiritual 
societies  in  the  country.  The  venerable  James  Furbish 
is  still  its  president.  They  have  a  nice  hall,  which  they 
control,  central  in  its  location  and  easy  of  access.  A 
Children's  Progressive  Lyceum  was  organized  in  1865, 
and  numbers  at  present  one  hundred  and  fifty  members. 
Last  Sunday  was  convention  day,  and  devoted  prin- 
cipally to  reading,  singing,  and  declamation.  The  Port- 
land Lyceum  is  particularly  fortunate  in  possessing  a 
large  amount  of  musical  talent,  which,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  an  accomplished  musical  director,  has  been 
well  developed.  Is  it  not  wonderful  what  an  amount 
of  musical  and  dramatic  talent  these  Lyceums  are 
bringing  out,  wherever  once  established? 

"  There  have  been  many  changes  since  I  was  here  last 
(ten  years)  ;  some  old  and  tried  friends  have  passed  over 
the  river  of  death,  others  have  changed  location  in  this 
world,  and  doubtless  some  have  switched  off  the  track 
of  open  advocacy  of  Spiritualism  to  a  quasi  indorse- 
ment of  some  of  the  forms  of  old  theology ;  but  I  trust 
this  class  numbers  but  few,  for  certain  it  is  that  no 


FAREWELL    TO  NEW  ENGLAND.  161 

person  once  a  Spiritualist  can  ever  honestly  deny  the 
truth  of  our  beautiful  philosophy. 

"  Puritan  theology  is  very  powerful  in  Portland,  and 
the  •  Christian  Young  Men '  have  their  reading  and 
praying  rooms  as  elsewhere,  and,  I  presume,  advocate 
the  same  doctrines  of  Evangelism,  and  a  union  of 
church  and  state  to  regulate  the  religion  of  the  people. 
There  are  a  great  many  earnest,  whole-souled  workers 
in  the  cause  of  Spiritualism  here,  some  of  whom  have 
been  connected  with  the  society  ever  since  its  forma- 
tion, and  everything  now  looks  favorable  for  greater 
progress  in  the  future." 

He  spoke,  the  first  Sunday  of  June,  at  Charlestown, 
Mass.,  having  the  pleasure  of  a  short  visit  with  brother 
Peebles  in  Boston,  en  passant,  the  second  in  East 
Abington,  and  the  third  in  East  Bridgewater,  spending 
the  intervening  week  in  visiting,  and  attending  the 
Great  Peace  Jubilee,  in  Boston,  in  company  with  a 
joyous  bridal  party.  This  was  his  last  farewell  to  New 
England,  —  his  last  two  lectures  within  its  borders 
being  given  in  the  town  of  his  birth,  and  that  which 
was  the  scene  of  his  last  school  days.  He  reached  home 
the  first  of  July,  and  during  that  month  filled  the  desk 
of  the  Battle  Creek  Society.  The  balance  of  the  sum- 
mer was  given  mostly  to  attending  grove  and  county 
meetings  in  this  state. 

In  October  he  revisited  Philadelphia,  to  speak,  after 
an  interval  of  twelve  years.  He  was  fortunate  in  reach- 
ing the  city  just  before  the  great  floods,  which  in  the 
early  part  of  that  month  spread  such  devastation  over  a 
large  portion  of  Pennsylvania,  interrupting  railroad 
communications  for  some  days.  Of  these  he  wrote,  un- 
der date  of  October  5,  — 
11 


162  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.  WHITING. 

"  I  suppose  you  have  read  of  the  terrible  floods  in 
this  region.  All  the  railroads  are  more  or  less  flooded, 
bridges  washed  away,  &c.  The  Schuylkill  and  Dela- 
ware rivers  are  both  running  mad  this  morning,  and 
great  damage  has  been  done  along  the  banks  above  the 
city,  and  many  mills  inundated  and  bridges  swept  away 
in  the  city.  The  Spiritualists  here  have  good  grit  to 
turn  out,  for  I  had  a  very  good  audience  Sunday  even- 
ing, though  it  rained  'prodigious.'  " 

October  22.  "  Last  Thursday,  by  invitation,  I  visited 
a  very  fine  gallery  of  paintings,  by  eminent  foreign  and 
native  artists.  I  was  especially  delighted  with  two  little 
gems  by  Rosa  Bonheur,  though  some  of  the  larger  pic- 
tures would  win  more  admiration  from  the  majority  of 
people,  no  doubt." 

"  Friday,  15,  I  went  to  hear  Emma  Hardinge.  She 
is  speaking  in  this  city  Sundays,  and  goes  to  New  York 
every  Monday,  and  remains  until  Friday,  reading  proof 
of  her  book — 'The  History  of  American  Spiritualism.' 
Last  evening  I  went  up  to  Kensington,  four  miles  from 
here,  but  still  in  the  city,  to  attend  the  exhibition  of 
their  Lyceum.  If  the  spirit  of  mother's  uncle,  Caswell 
Gardner,  ever  hovers  around  his  former  home,  he  will 
see  a  very  great  change  from  his  once  country  estate  to 
a  crowded  part  of  the  city." 

This  was  his  last  visit  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  had 
a  few  dear  and  tried  friends  of  many  years  standing, 
and  many  newer  ones. 

The  ensuing  month  he  spoke  in  Detroit,  and  also, 
during  that  time,  was  called  upon  to  conduct  funeral 
services  over  all  that  was  mortal  of  a  faithful  worker 
in  the  spiritual  vineyard,  Mrs.  Alcinda  Wilhelm  Slade, 


LECTURES  AT  THE   WEST.  163 

who,  less  than  a  year  previously,  had  adopted  this  state 
as  her  home,  under  the  most  nattering  auspices. 

The  remainder  of  this  year,  together  with  the  first 
half  of  1870,  he  spent  mostly  in  this  state.  In  Feb- 
ruary, in  addition  to  his  Sunday  lectures  in  Coldwater, 
which  called  forth  especial  mention  from  the  local  press, 
he  accepted  an  invitation  to  deliver  a  literary  lecture 
before  the  Young  Men's  Association  of  Marshall,  fol- 
lowing Henry  Vincent  in  the  course.  His  subject  was 
"  The  Ideal  and  the  Real,"  and  he  spoke  entirely  with- 
out notes,  as  was  his  invariable  custom  on  all  occasions. 
An  abstract  of  this  lecture,  written  by  me  at  the  time, 
and  published  in  the  M  Present  Age  "  and  other  papers, 
will  be  found  in  the  second  part  of  this  volume.  It, 
of  course,  can  convey  but  a  mere  skeleton  of  the  ad- 
dress, as  it  fell  from  his  lips  at  the  Academy  of  Music, 
Marshall,  February  25,  1870. 

Early  in  the  following  autumn,  he  gave  his  last  lec- 
tures in  Chicago,  and  at  Kalamazoo,  Mich.,  attending, 
in  the  mean  while,  the  yearly  picnic  of  the  Albion 
Society,  as  usual,  and  speaking  in  many  places  in  the 
vicinity  of  home.  In  October  he  spoke  at  Farmington 
and  Milford,  and,  the  very  last  of  that  month,  gave  his 
last  address  at  Battle  Creek,  the  occasion  being  the 
funeral  of  an  aged  Spiritualist  —  Mrs.  Merritt.  From 
there  he  went  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  to  fill  an  engagement 
for  the  two  following  months  —  November  and  Decem- 
ber. Of  his  first  Sunday  there  he  wrote,  "  It  was 
the  largest  audience  I  ever  had  in  this  city.  The  hall 
is  large,  theater-shaped,  and  consequently  easy  to  speak 
in."  I  will  insert  a  few  extracts  from  his  letters,  men- 
tioning incidents  of  this  his  latest  visit  to  Louisville. 

November  20.     "  Last  Sunday  morning,  by  invitation 


164  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.   WHITING. 

of  some  of  the  prominent  Jew  Spiritualists,  —  of  whom 
there  are  a  good  many,  —  I  attended  the  synagogue. 
They  have  the  best  organ  and  choir  I  have  heard  in 
a  long  time,  and  have  instituted  quite  an  innovation  in 
allowing  the  men  and  women  to  sit  together  —  a  thing 
I  never  saw  before  in  a  Jewish  meeting.  The  services 
were  the  same  as  I  have  witnessed  before  many  times, 
and  the  sermon,  I  was  informed,  was  very  good,  but, 

being  in  German,  I  was  obliged  like  brother ,  on  a 

like  occasion,  to  take  the  word  of  a  reliable  gentleman 
as  to  that  matter.  I  was  introduced  to  the  Rabbi,  who 
seems  to  be  a  very  liberal  man.  He  reciprocated  by 
attending  my  lecture  in  the  evening,  and,  as  he  under- 
stands English,  he  is  so  much  ahead." 

November  29.  "  Last  Sunday  night,  after  lecture,  I 
spent  about  half  an  hour  at  a  circle,  where  the  principal 
medium  was  a  young  lawyer,  of  Jewish  birth,  named 
Dinkelspiel.  The  manifestations  were  very  wonderful, 
—  spirits  talking  audibly,  and  other  feats  of  like  char- 
acter. I  have  also  been  to  see  Mrs.  Hollis  —  a  medium 
who  has  writing  on  the  slate,  same  as  Dr.  Slade." 

The  evangelical  clergy  of  the  city  became  very  much 
exercised  over  the  great  interest  which  was  being 
aroused  in  the  subject  of  Spiritualism,  and  several  of 
them  preached  especial  sermons  of  warning  to  their 
flocks.  Among  the  number  was  Rev.  Mr.  Hopson, 
whom  my  brother  reviewed  in  a  discourse  on  u  The 
Varieties  of  Faith,"  an  abstract  of  which  was  published 
in  the  "  Courier- Journal."  He  afterward  sent  to  that 
paper  the  following  challenge  to  the  clergy  of  the 
city:  — 

"  Inasmuch  as  there  has  been,  during  the  last  few 
weeks  in  this  city,  much  controversy  upon  the  subject 


CHALLENGE   TO   THE   CLERGT.  165 

of  Spiritualism,  and  the  opponents  thereof  and  myself 
have  been  compelled  to  reply  to  each  other  through 
reportorial  notes,  —  which  in  my  own  case  must  neces- 
sarily be  very  meagre,  as  I  speak  entirely  extempore, 
and  about  two  hundred  and  twenty  words  a  minute,  —  I 
would  suggest  the  propriety  of  holding  a  public  debate 
upon  the  subject,  to  continue  three  or  more  evenings 
during  the  week.  In  reply  to  reports  second  hand,  there 
must  necessarily  be  more-  or  less  unintentional  misrep- 
resentation. Now,  in  order  that  the  citizens  of  this 
city  may  hear  on  equal  terms  both  sides  of  this  impor- 
tant subject,  I  propose  to  Elder  Hopson,  or  any  other 
clergyman  of  this  city  who  represents  his  denomination, 
a  public  discussion  of  either  of  the  subjoined  questions, 
under  parliamentary  rules :  — 

1.  "  Resolved,  That  the  Scriptures,  history,  and  pres- 
ent demonstrations  prove  that  the  spirits  of  departed 
human  beings  have  communicated  in  the  past,  and  can, 
and  do,  in  the  present,  communicate  with  the  people  of 
earth. 

2.  "Resolved,  That  the  Bible  (King  James'  transla- 
tion) sustains  modern  Spiritualism  in  all  its  phases. 

"My  object  in  interpolating  the  phrase  —  King 
James'  translation  —  is  to  avoid  any  loss  of  time  dis- 
puting regarding  Hebrew,  Greek,  or  Latin  idioms,  and 
bring  the  subject  on  its  own  merits  directly  before  the 
people.  In  addition,  I  am  ready  to  receive  and  consider 
any  proposition  from  Elder  Hopson,  or  any  other 
clergyman,  which  they  will  be  willing  to  affirm,  and 
upon  which  there  is  between  us  a  point  of  differ- 
ence."    .     .     . 

Then  followed  provision  for  rules,  committee,  &c, 
the  same  in  substance  as  elsewhere  stated  in  correspond- 


166  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.    WHITING, 

ence  with  other  clergymen.  This  communication,  how- 
ever, met  with  no  response  from  the  Louisville  evan- 
gelists. 

The  second  week  in  Decemher  he  went  to  Paris, 
Bourbon  County,  to  deliver  a  course  of  week  evening 
lectures,  —  passing  there  his  thirty-fifth  birthday, 
upon  which  occasion  he  wrote  as  follows :  — 

December  14.  "  Thirty-five  years  old  to-day,  and  I 
don't  know  as  I  feel  any  older  than  I  did  yesterday. 
It  is  a  lovely,  sunshiny  day,  cool,  but  not  uncomfortable. 
This  is  one  of  the  oldest  towns  in  this  part  of  Kentucky, 
and  the  place  where  was  first  made  the  celebrated 
Bourbon  whisky,  which  has  since  had  more  thousands 
of  barrels  named  for  it  than  ever  there  were  gallons  made 
in  this  county.  There  are  a  great  many  old  style  in- 
fidels here,  but  a  few  Spiritualists.  My  lecture  last 
night  was  the  first  ever  given  here  on  the  subject,  and 
was  listened  to  by  a  large  audience  with  apparent 
interest." 

Soon  after  his  return  to  Louisville,  a  soreness  of  the 
throat,  which  he  had  considered  of  little  consequence, 
became  serious,  and  developed  into  a  large  abscess,  which 
obliged  him  to  disappoint  his  audience  upon  the  last 
Sunday  of  his  engagement.  Indeed,  he  came  very 
near  passing  over  the  river  at  that  time,  as  the  surgeon 
who  lanced  his  throat  said  that,  if  it  had  broken  while 
he  was  lying  down,  strangulation  would  have  been  al- 
most certain.  As  it  was,  he  came  near  starving  on  ac- 
count of  the  swelling  preventing  the  taking  of  any  food 
but  perfect  liquid  for  some  time.  Tins  and  the  severe 
pain  reduced  him  very  much,  and  inflicted  a  shock  upon 
his  system  from  which  it  never  fully  recovered.      As 


ADDRESS  AT  ALBION.  167 

soon  as  able  he  came  home,  having  been  presented  by 
his  Louisville  friends  with  a  very  handsome  cane  to  lean 
upon  in  his  weakness,  which  proved  of  great  service  to 
him,  not  only  then,  but  during  the  remainder  of  his 
life  on  earth.  He  arrived  in  time  to  spend  New  Year's 
with  us,  and,  though  still  very  feeble,  entertained  a  few 
friends  on  that  day,  to  whom  he  gave  a  whimsical  ac- 
count of  the  way  he  had  "  been  starved,  had  his  throat 
cut,  and  been  caned,"  in  explaining  to  them  his  altered 
looks. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

FEEBLENESS  OF  BODY  AND  STRENGTH  OF  SPIRIT. — 
LAST  LECTURES  AT  CINCINNATI,  OHIO,  AND  AT  PORT 
HURON,  FARMINGTON,  AND  JVHLFORD,  MICH.  —  HOME 
AND  REST. — ON  THE  THRESHOLD  OF  ETERNITY. — 
FAREWELL  ADDRESS.  —  THE  GREAT  TRANSITION. — 
FUNERAL  SERVICES  AT  ALBION,  AND  HONORS  TO 
HIS  MEMORY  ELSEWHERE. 

On  the  10th  of  January  he  considered  himself  re- 
covered sufficiently  to  speak  at  the  county  convention 
of  Spiritualists,  at  Albion,  which  he  did,  delivering  the 
closing  address  of  the  convention  on  the  subject  of 
"  The  Hand  writing  on  the  Wall."  The  following  week 
he  attended  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  the  Eaton  Coun- 
ty Circle  at  Charlotte,  and  the  last  of  January  went 
to  speak  at  Farmington  and  Milford,  Mich.     He  filled 


168  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.   B.    WHITING. 

this  engagement,  however,  at  the  expense  of  consider- 
able physical  suffering,  writing  home  as  follows :  — 

Farmington,  February  11,  1871. 

I  have  been  sick  for  the  past  week ;  had  a  severe  chill 
Sunday  morning.  Mrs.  McCain  (a  clairvoyant  physician 
of  fifteen  years'  practice  at  Milford)  doctored  me  up,  so 
that  I  went  through  with  my  public  duties  in  a  manner 
satisfactory  to  them,  but  very  exhausting  to  me.  My 
old  friend,  Dr.  Irish,  controlled  her,  and  told  me  I  ought 
to  stop  speaking  and  get  recruited  up.  He  says  I  have 
overtasked  the  brain  and  nervous  fluids.  I  shall  try  to 
take  his  advice  after  I  have  fulfilled  my  present  engage- 
ments ;  hope  I  will  not  be  compelled  to  before.  One 
queer  idea  he  advanced,  viz. :  that  it  is  very  injurious 
for  me  to  attend  so  many  funerals ;  but  I  don't  see  how 
I  can  help  it :  people  will  die. 

I  guess  I  have  written  enough  of  the  doleful ;  as  I 
told  J.  M.,  the  day  I  had  the  chill,  I  could  play  the 
part  of  the  "  Hypochondriac  "  with  the  natural  expres- 
sion. 

He  came  home  soon  after,  but  his  disposition  would 
not  allow  him  to  rest  longer  than  absolutely  compelled  by 
weakness,  and  in  March  he  went  to  Port  Huron  to  fill 
an  engagement  of  long  standing.  Not  being  able  to  fix 
the  exact  date  of  this  visit,  on  account  of  the  loss  of  one 
or  two  letters,  I  wrote  recently  to  his  friend,  Dr. 
Pace,  of  Port  Huron,  for  the  required  data,  receiv- 
ing in  reply  a  letter  from  which  I  take  the  following 
extracts :  — 


LETTER  FROM  DR.   PACE.  169 

United  States  Consulate  at  Sarnia, 
Ontario,  March  29,  1872. 

Miss  R.  Augusta  Whiting,  Albion,  Mich. 

Dear  Madam  :  Your  letter  of  21st  instant,  in  reference 
to  your  brother's  last  visit  to  Port  Huron,  was  duly 
received.     .     .     . 

Your  brother's  last  engagement  with  the  Spiritualists 
of  Port  Huron  was  for  the  two  last  Sundays  of  March, 
1871.  He  was  in  very  feeble  health  at  the  time,  and  on 
the  last  Sunday  of  his  stay  with  us  he  leaned  upon  my 
arm  on  his  way  to  the  lecture-room.  He  walked  very 
slowly,  and  was  evidently  very  much  exhausted.  I  ex- 
pressed some  fear  that  he  would  not  be  able  to  speak 
that  day ;  but  said  he,  "  Don't  be  alarmed ;  the  spirits 
will  take  care  of  that.  I  shall  speak  to-day,  but  I  can't 
promise  you  much  for  the  future.  My  labors  on  earth 
are  nearly  finished." 

When  we  arrived  at  the  hall,  I  assisted  him  on  to  the 
platform,  and  gave  him  a  glass  of  water;  and  as  the 
choir  commenced  to  sing,  the  angels  commenced  to  bap- 
tize him  with  their  magnetic  strength.  He  arose  firmly 
to  his  feet,  and  in  a  loud,  unfaltering  tone  of  voice  gave 
us  a  lecture  which  occupied  over  an  hour  in  its  delivery, 
and  such  a  lecture  as  could  only  fall  from  the  inspired 
lips  of  A.  B.  Whiting.     .     .     . 

I  am,  very  truly,  yours, 

S.  D.  Pace. 

On  his  return  from  Port  Huron,  we  urged  him  very 
strongly  to  throw  up  his  engagement  at  Cincinnati  the 
next  two  months ;  but  so  great  was  his  dislike  for  dis- 
appointing people,  that  he  could  not  feel  that  it  would 
be  right  to  do  so  if  it  could  be  avoided.     When  the 


170  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.   B.    WHITING. 

time  came  for  him  to  go,  however,  he  was  not  able  to 
travel,  and  sent  a  dispatch  to  that  effect ;  also  wrote,  ex- 
plaining the  reason  and  asking  to  be  released  from  the 
engagement,  but  stating  that  he  might  perhaps  be  able 
to  come  in  a  week  or  two.  He  received  an  answer  de- 
siring him  to  come  as  soon  as  he  was  able,  and  they 
would  keep  up  the  meetings  as  best  they  could  until  his 
arrival. 

Being  somewhat  recruited  by  another  week  at  home, 
he  accordingly  went,  and  remained  seven  Sundays, 
though  at  what  expense  of  physical  suffering  was  known 
only  to  him  and  the  angels  who  attended  and  sustained. 
I  felt  it  all  by  virtue  of  the  mystic  tie,  but  it  was  not 
until  afterward  that  I  knew  that  chapter  of  heroic  en- 
durance from  outward  sources.  He  complained  little  in 
his  letters,  except  of  being  tired  and  homesick. 

After  the  first  Sunday  there  he  wrote,  — 

"  I  was  terribly  exhausted  with  the  noise  and  jar  of 
the  cars,  but  got  through  Sunday  better  than  I  expect- 
ed. Miss  Keyser  gave  some  wonderful  tests,  in  de- 
scribing spirits  and  giving  their  names,  after  lecture. 
It  is  warm  weather,  and  fruit  trees  are  in  bloom  forty 
miles  north  of  here." 

Later.  "  I  could  not  read  the  papers  you  sent  me  on 
account  of  my  eyes,  which  are  very  bad,  caused  partly, 
I  think,  by  my  going  over  to  Covington  in  the  wind  a 
few  days  ago.  I  have  tried  to  get  them  to  let  me  off 
with  this  month,  but  they  don't  seem  disposed  to ;  so, 
if  I  keep  as  well  as  now,  I  shall  probably  have  to  stay 
the  two  months  out." 

May  8.  "No  particular  change  in  my  health.  I 
don't  know  that  I  am  any  worse  for  being  here.  I  have 
no  engagement  except  the  one  at  Farmington  and  Mil- 


AT  HOME  AGAIN.  171 

ford,  —  the  two  last  Sundays  of  June,  —  and  shall  make 
no  more.  I  have  had  an  invitation  to  go  to  Paris,  Ky., 
and  spend  three  weeks,  but  shall  not  accept.  I  want 
to  get  home.  My  friends  urge  me  to  come  to  Louisville, 
but  I  am  afraid  the  fatigue  of  travel  would  overbalance 
the  benefit  derived  from  the  pleasant  company  of 
friends." 

May  11.  "I  think  I  shall  be  able  to  weather  it 
through.  The  Executive  Board  met  last  night  and  I 
told  them  I  would  be  glad  to  be  let  off  after  next  Sun- 
day, but  they  wouldn't  hear  to  it  at  all ;  so,  unless  I  lose 
my  voice,  I  shall  stay  the  month  out.  I  sometimes 
think  it  don't  make  much  difference,  as  I  average  about 
as  well  as  when  I  left  home  ;  but  when  I  feel  as  I  did 
last  Monday  I  want  to  be  home." 

May  21.  M  One  Sunday  more  and  this  is  over.  Yes- 
terday was  a  terribly  hot  day.  I  believe  an  egg  on  the 
desk  would  have  cooked  enough  for  my  dinner.  My 
cane  has  come  very  handy,  as  I  have  scarcely  been  able 
to  walk  a  block  since  I  have  been  here.  I  ride  to  the  hall, 
and  get  up  stairs  with  the  help  of  my  cane.  The  reason 
is,  that  my  ankles  seem  to  give  way,  and  they  pain  me 
nights  terribly  sometimes.  I  write  this  that  you  may 
not  be  alarmed  to  see  me  looking  rather  worse  than  you 
perhaps  expect." 

He  came  home  in  this  condition,  and  continued  to 
suffer  exquisitely  with  his  ankles  for  several  days  long- 
er ;  but  home  care  and  the  medical  aid  obtained  from  a 
clairvoyant  physician,  Dr.  Rowe,  of  Mason,  relieved 
him,  so  that  he  determined  to  fulfill  his  "  one  more  en- 
gagement" at  Farmington  and  Milford,  the  last  two 
Sundays  of  June.  He  got  through  the  first  Sunday 
very  well,  but  the  second  he  became  so  exhausted  that 


172  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.   B.    WHITING, 

he  fainted  immediately  after  concluding  his  evening's 
lecture,  and  lay  in  a  state  of  prostration  for  several  days, 
too  weak  to  attempt  the  journey  home.  Fortunately 
for  him,  he  was  staying  at  the  home  of  the  clairvoyant 
physician,  Mrs.  McCain,  of  Milford,  mentioned  in  con- 
nection with  his  visit  to  the  same  place  the  previous 
winter.  The  prompt  action  of  this  lady,  under  control 
of  her  spirit  guides,  and  the  tender  care  bestowed  upon 
him,  doubtless  saved  his  life  at  this  time.  Before  leaving 
for  home  he  received  a  peculiar  test  of  spirit  foresight. 
An  old  physician,  whom  he  had  known  in  earth  life,  and 
whose  funeral  he  had  attended  many  years  previously, 
conversed  with  him  through  the  mediumship  of  Mrs. 
McCain,  and,  after  giving  him  other  advice  with  regard 
to  his  health,  said,  "  You  must  give  up  speaking  en- 
tirely for  at  least  six  months,  or  you  can  not  possibly  re- 
gain your  health.  You  ought  not  to  address  an  audience 
again ;  but  you  will  be  called  upon  soon  to  attend  the 
funeral  of  an  old  friend,  which  you  will  feel  compelled 
to  do,  though  at  great  peril  to  yourself.' ' 

He  had  been  at  home  but  a  few  days  when  a  messenger 
came  to  announce  the  death  of  Mrs.  Hiram  Hammond, 
of  Onondaga,  Mich.,  she  having  left  the  especial  request 
that  her  funeral  sermon  should  be  preached  by  A.  B. 
Whiting.  Twelve  years  before,  she  had  asked  and  re- 
ceived his  promise  to  perform  for  her  that  service  should 
he  survive  her,  and  he  felt  that  he  must  redeem  that 
promise  if  it  were  possible.  He  resolved  to  go,  but, 
though  the  distance  was  short,  he  did  not  dare  attempt 
to  go  alone ;  so  I  went  with  him.  The  distance  was 
about  thirty-five  miles  by  rail,  and  we  went  the  evening 
before  the  day  appointed  for  the  funeral,  the  first  Sun- 
day of  July.     The  little  journey  fatigued  him  very  much, 


LOW  STATE   OF  HEALTH.  173 

and  he  passed  a  dreadful  night,  a  night  of  terrible 
anxiety  to  me  then,  but  of  blissful  remembrance  now  — 
of  thankfulness  that  I  was  privileged  to  sustain  him 
through  that  sharp  struggle  for  life  ;  that  mine  was  the 
hand  to  which  he  clung  in  those  fearful  paroxysms  of 
pain.  The  morning  found  him  so  exhausted  as  scarcely 
to  be  able  to  raise  himself  from  the  bed,  his  stomach  re- 
fusing to  retain  a  particle  of  anything  either  solid  or 
liquid.  Yet,  when  the  time  came  for  the  services,  he 
arose  and  dressed  with  my  help,  though  with  consider- 
able difficulty ;  was  assisted  into  the  carriage,  and  rode 
two  miles  to  the  church,  where  he  delivered  a  most 
beautiful  address,  of  about  forty  minutes'  length,  in  his 
usual  clear  and  powerful  tones,  giving  no  outward  sign 
of  weakness  after  the  first  few  sentences.  Probably  no 
person  present  suspected  that  he  was  suffering  from 
more  than  a  slight  temporary  illness.  Not  daring  to 
trust  himself  on  the  cars  again,  we  returned  home  in  an 
easy  carriage  the  same  afternoon.  He  never  left  Albion 
again.  For  three  weeks  and  more  he  was  confined  to 
the  house ;  then  he  seemed  to  gain  strength,  and  began 
to  ride  out,  and  then  to  walk  a  short  distance  every 
pleasant  day.  This  he  continued  to  do  through  August, 
and  we  had  strong  hopes  that,  when  the  cool  days  came, 
he  would  improve  more  rapidly. 

On  Saturday  and  Sunday,  the  2d  and  3d  of  Sep- 
tember, the  Albion  Society  of  Spiritualists  held  the 
usual  Yearly  Grove  Meeting,  at  Spectacle  Lake.  Miss 
Susie  Johnson  was  the  speaker  engaged.  Mrs.  Lois 
Waisbroker  was  also  present,  and  by  invitation  addressed 
the  audience  on  Sunday  morning.  It  had  been  an- 
nounced upon  the  notices  of  the  meeting  that  A.  B. 
Whiting   (health  permitting)  would  be  present.     He 


174  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

told  the  friends,  however,  that  he  would  not  be  able  to 
speak,  even  if  he  were  present,  so  that  he  might  not 
feel  under  any  obligation  to  go,  if  he  did  not  feel  well 
enough. 

On  Saturday  he  walked  out  as  usual,  but  did  not  go 
to  the  meeting  that  day.  Sunday  afternoon,  however, 
he  rode  to  the  grove,  —  a  distance  of  two  miles, — though 
with  no  intention  of  speaking. 

Of  course  he  was  eagerly  welcomed,  and  requested 
most  urgently  to  say  "just  a  few  words  "  to  the  friends 
assembled.  To  our  surprise,  he  consented,  and  impelled, 
as  it  seemed,  by  an  irresistible  impulse,  extended  his  re- 
marks to  an  eloquent  and  comprehensive  address,  occu- 
pying about  twenty  minutes  in  rapid  delivery,  and 
closing  with  an  improvisation  upon  the  subject,  "'Tis 
only  a  Question  of  Time."  The  power  and  pathos  of  that 
last  address,  that  farewell  poem,  will  never  be  forgotten 
by  those  who  listened  to  his  voice  that  day.  Many 
were  moved  to  tears  ;  for  his  words  were  pervaded  by 
a  prophetic  undertone,  touched  by  the  shadow  of  the 
coming  change.  Had  he  stood  up  with  the  deliberate 
intent  of  taking  thus  his  farewell  of  the  spiritual  ros- 
trum, he  could  not  have  chosen  better  the  words  or  the 
occasion.  He  was  much  exhausted  by  the  effort,  though 
he  spoke  with  all  the  vigor  and  apparent  ease  which  were 
so  eminently  characteristic  of  him  as  a  public  speaker. 
He  remained  and  listened  to  Miss  Johnson's  lecture,  and 
then  rode  home  and  entertained  several  guests  at  tea  with 
his  usual  pleasant  hospitality.  The  following  morning 
he  complained  somewhat  of  weariness  and  nausea,  but 
kept  up,  and  spent  the  time  in  conversation  with  us  and 
Mrs.  Bailey,  of  Battle  Creek,  who  was  our  guest.  He 
had,  the  evening  previous,  expressly  desired  Miss  Johnson 


EXHAUSTION.  175 

to  take  dinner  with  him  that  day,  and  exacted  her  prom- 
ise to  that  effect  with  such  peculiar  earnestness  that 
she  felt  compelled  to  accede  to  the  request,  although 
at  considerable  inconvenience.  He  sat  at  dinner  with 
us,  and  dispensed  the  hospitality  of  his  table  for  the  last 
time,  referring,  in  a  laughing  way,  to  his  inability  to  par- 
take of  the  same  dishes  as  the  rest,  his  diet  being  con- 
fined to  soup  and  oatmeal  gruel  on  account  of  the 
stomach  refusing  to  retain  other  food. 

After  dinner  he  bade  a  cheerful  good  by  to  Mrs. 
Bailey,  who  left  for  home,  conversed  with  Miss  John- 
son a  few  minutes,  and  then  went  to  he  down,  as  was 
his  custom.  Less  than  an  hour  later  he  called  me,  and 
asked  for  a  glass  of  water,  complaining  of  nausea  and 
faintness,  but  desiring  me  not  to  disturb  Miss  Johnson 
(who  had  gone  to  he  down),  or  let  mother  know  he  was 
sick.  This  I  was  accustomed  to,  as,  throughout  his 
sickness,  he  had  always  chosen  to  conceal  his  sufferings 
as  much  as  possible.  I  therefore  stood  by  him  until  he 
seemed  somewhat  relieved,  and  then,  as  his  hand  still 
clasped  mine,  sat  down  upon  the  side  of  the  bed,  to  wait 
until  he  should  require  my  assistance  to  rise.  He  lay 
quietly  a  few  minutes,  then  moved  uneasily,  as  if  in 
pain  ;  said,  in  answer  to  my  inquiry,  "  It  seems  to  me 
I  never  felt  so  badly  in  my  life  !  "  and,  as  I  raised  him 
from  the  pillow,  breathed  his  last  in  my  arms,  with  a 
struggle  so  brief  that  it  had  passed  almost  before  any 
other  person  could  reach  the  room.  The  arms  that  had 
clasped  me  convulsively  relaxed  their  hold,  and  he  lay 
sleeping,  apparently,  as  peacefully  as  a  tired  child. 

We  could  scarce  believe  that  the  change  had  indeed 
come  ;  for  his  slight  improvement  had  greatly  strength- 
ened our  hopes  of  his  final  recovery.     It  is  true,  the 


176  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.  WHITING. 

"  Old  Man  "  had  told  us  that  he  would  be  "  worse  before 
he  was  better,"  and  that  his  life  would  be  in  the  most 
imminent  danger  until  after  the  fateful  month  of 
November  should  be  passed ;  but  there  are  some  calam- 
ities which  the  mind  refuses  to  conceive  as  possible, 
until  compelled  by  stern  necessity.  Those  who  have 
read  the  preceding  pages  will  not  wonder  that  we  relied 
much  upon  those  angelic  guardians,  who  in  so  many 
situations  of  doubt  and  difficulty  had  demonstrated  their 
power  to  protect  and  save ;  or  that  we  dared  hope  that 
in  this  case,  as  in  many  others,  they  would  be  able  to  do 
for  us  more  than  they  ventured  to  promise. 

To  the  public  the  shock  was  even  more  sudden  and 
unexpected ;  for,  except  to  a  very  small  circle  of  friends, 
many  of  the  circumstances  that  rendered  his  condition 
especially  perilous  were  entirely  unknown,  particularly 
the  presence  in  his  system  of  the  lurking  remnants  of 
the  deadly  drug  administered  seven  years  previously, 
which  to  a  certain  extent  defeated  the  action  of  remedies 
that  might  otherwise  have  availed  for  his  relief.  Had 
the  malice  of  enemies  survived  the  lapse  of  time,  it 
might  be  gratified  to  know  that  it  had  been  even  a  dis- 
tant and  indirect  cause  of  his  premature  death ;  but  he 
had,  for  the  most  part,  outlived  either  his  foes  or  their 
malignity,  so  that  some,  who  might  then  have  rejoiced 
at  seeing  him  laid  low,  are  sincere  mourners  now. 

What  his  loss  was  to  the  world  can  be  in  some  meas- 
ure realized  by  those  who  thoroughly  canvass  the  story 
of  his  life,  —  better  by  those  who,  through  personal  ac- 
quaintance, are  qualified  to  fill  up  and  round  the  out- 
lines which  alone  are  possible  to  a  work  of  this  kind. 
What  the  removal  of  his  visible  presence  was  to  his 
own,  can  only  be  understood  by  those  who  have  had  re- 


DEATH  AND  FUNERAL.  177 

moved  from  them  the  support  of  an  earthly  arm  upon 
which  they  relied  with  perfect  trust  and  confidence, 
the  sight  of  an  earthly  face  that  was  to  them  the  mir- 
ror of  heaven.  What  it  would  have  been  without  the 
knowledge  of  his  immortal  life,  his  continued  love  and 
presence,  his  ever-watchful  care,  I  do  not  dare  im- 
agine. Faith  is  beautiful  and  holy  ;  but  thrice  blessed 
is  knowledge,  through  life  and  in  the  hour  of  death. 

Funeral  services  were  held  at  his  home  in  Albion, 
September  6,  at  three  P.  M.,  and  his  mortal  remains  de- 
posited in  the  cemetery  at  the  same  place.  Miss  Susie 
Johnson  delivered  the  address,  taking  for  text,  "  He  has 
fought  a  good  fight ;  he  has  finished  his  course ;  he  has  kept 
the  faith."  She  was  listened  to  by  a  large  concourse 
of  people,  of  all  shades  of  belief  and  opinion  religiously, 
but  who  all  agreed  in  their  esteem  for  the  arisen  one, 
and  in  deeming  her  remarks  a  fitting  tribute  to  his 
memory.  Rev.  Parker  Pillsbury  was  also  present,  and 
said  a  few  words.  Two  of  his  own  musical  composi- 
tions—  "O,  hear  my  Parting  Sigh!"  and  "Land  of 
the  so-called  Dead" — were  sung  by  a  chosen  quartet 
to  the  accompaniment  of  his  own  instrument, — that 
melodeon  upon  which  he  composed  the  most  of  his 
songs,  —  and  the  simple,  unpretentious  ceremonies  were 
ended. 

Not  only  the  spiritual  papers,  but  the  secular  press 
generally,  offered  tributes  of  respect  to  his  memory,  and 
letters  of  condolence  poured  in  upon  us  from  individuals 
and  societies  all  over  the  country ;  all  of  which  tokens 
of  sympathy  were  deeply  appreciated,  although  the 
multitude  of  similar  favors  received  made  it  impossible 
to  reply  to  each  in  detail. 

A  few  of  the  press  notices,  chosen  almost  at  random, 
12 


178  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.   WHITING. 

are  appended,  together  with  an  abstract  of  the  memo- 
rial sermon  preached  by  Mr.  Peebles  at  Louisville,  and  a 
poem  written  expressly  for  this  work,  and  dedicated  to 
his  memory,  by  Mrs.  L.  E.  Bailey,  of  Battle  Creek, 
Mich. 


SELECTIONS   FROM  PRESS   OBITUARIES. 

From  the  Banner  of  Light,  September  30. 
THE  LATE  A.   B.  WHITING. 

Again  has  the  Angel  of  Deliverance  swept  suddenly 
down  from  the  upper  hights,  and  loosed  from  earthly 
bonds  the  spirit  of  one  of  our  oldest  and  ablest  lec- 
turers. 

From  his  home  in  Albion,  Mich.,  on  Monday,  Sep- 
tember 4,  A.  B.  Whiting  passed  to  spirit  life.  He  had 
been  out  of  health,  but  not  considered  dangerously  ill, 
for  several  months.  Only  the  day  before,  he  had 
spoken  a  short  time  at  the  annual  Spiritualists'  picnic 
of  his  towns-people,  in  a  beautiful  grove  about  two  miles 
from  his  home ;  and  I  thought,  while  he  was  speaking,  I 
had  never  heard  him  talk  more  forcibly  and  eloquently 
in  defense  of  our  common  cause,  and  the  general  prin- 
ciples of  progress.  He  closed  his  remarks  with  a  soul- 
stirring  poem,  which,  as  we  afterward  reverted  to  it, 
seemed  almost  prophetic  of  the  events  which  followed. 
The  subject  of  the  poem  was,  "  Only  a  Question  of 
Time."  I  dined  with  him  on  Monday,  and  he  remarked 
that  he  was  usually  well.  Between  two  and  three 
P.  M.   he  left  us  without  even  a  "good  by."     The 


OBITUARY  NOTICES.  179 

struggle  of  separation  was  but  momentary  with  him,  at 
least,  and  as  a  peaceful  composure  settled  over  his  fea- 
tures, we  felt  that  "our  loss  was  his  gain."  The  phy- 
sicians pronounced  the  immediate  cause  of  his  change 
to  have  been  congestion  of  the  heart. 

His  funeral  was  attended  by  Parker  Pillsbury  and 
myself.  No  words  of  mine  will  add  anything  to  Mr. 
Whiting's  public  record ;  it  is  humanity's  inheritance, 
and  his  most  fitting  eulogy.  As  a  friend  remarked  to 
us  at  the  funeral,  "  he  died  at  his  post."  And  as  we 
folded  the  lid  over  the  beautiful  blue  eyes  and  draped 
the  body  for  the  grave,  the  words  of  Paul  seemed  ap- 
propriate :  "  He  has  fought  a  good  fight ;  he  has  finished 
his  course ;  he  has  kept  the  faith ;  henceforth  is  laid  up 
for  him  a  crown  of  righteousness." 

Thus  the  old  workers  cotemporary  with  myself  take 
their  departure  one  by  one  to  the  higher  schools  of  ex- 
perience, and  but  a  few  are  left  to  struggle  and  counsel 
together  here.  But  O,  how  inexpressibly  comforting 
is  the  consciousness  that  it  is  "  only  a  question  of  time," 
and  we  shall  rejoin  them,  and  together  carry  forward 
the  grand  purposes  of  being ! 

And  while  we  listen  with  expectant  ears  to  catch  the 
words  of  wisdom  dropping  like  refreshing  dews  from 
loving  lips  in  the  other  and  higher  life,  let  us  not  forget 
to  repay  their  watchful  care  by  our  ministries  of  sym- 
pathy and  assistance  to  those  they  have  left  behind. 
We  hope  Mr.  Whiting's  numerous  friends  throughout 
the  country  will  send  words  of  friendly  appreciation 
and  comfort  to  his  mother  and  sister,  who  are  lonely, 
though  not  alone. 

Susie  M.  Johnson. 

Detboit,  September  7,  1871. 


180  BIOGRAPHT  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

From  the  Banner  of  Light,  October  14. 

The  Society  of  Spiritualists  at  Port  Huron,  Mich., 
passed  the  following  resolutions  September  10,  in  re- 
spect to  the  memory  of  A.  B.  Whiting:  — 

Whereas,  The  physical  body  of  A.  B.  Whiting  has 
yielded  to  the  ravages  of  disease,  and  the  beautiful  soul 
that  once  animated  it  has  taken  its  flight  to  a  purer 
clime  and  a  higher  life,  be  it  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  this  Society  have  always  entertained 
the  highest  regard  for  his  talent  and  appreciation  of  his 
labors,  and  realize  that,  in  his  transition,  the  cause  of 
Spiritualism  has  sustained  an  irreparable  loss. 

Resolved,  That  the  Spiritual  Society  of  Port  Huron, 
Mich.,  do  hereby  tender  to  his  bereaved  mother  and 
sister  an  expression  of  our  sympathy  and  heartfelt  re- 
gret. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be  for- 
warded to  his  mother  and  sister,  and  that  the  spiritual 
press  be  requested  to  publish  the  same. 

J.  S.  Newell,  Pres. 

S.  D.  Pace,  See.  pro  tern. 


From  the  Albion  Recorder,  September  8. 
DEATH  OF  A.   B.   WHITING. 

The  people  of  Albion  were  surprised  and  pained  to 
learn  of  the  sudden  death,  by  rupture  of  a  blood-vessel, 
or  of  the  heart  itself,  on  Monday  afternoon,  of  A.  B. 
Whiting.  Mr.  W.  had  been  in  feeble  health  for  some 
time,  but  was  able  to  be  about,  and  attended  the  spirit- 
ualist picnic  a  day  or  two  before,  on  which  occasion  he 


OB  ITU  ART  NOTICES.  181 

spoke  briefly,  but  not  in  any  labored  effort.  He  was  a 
man  of  strict  integrity,  and  fine  intellectual  attainments. 
As  a  lecturer  and  advocate  of  the  faith  of  the  Spiritu- 
alists he  was  widely  known,  and  exerted  a  great  influ- 
ence. His  funeral  was  attended  by  citizens  generally, 
and  by  friends  from  other  places.  Remarks  were  made 
by  Miss  S.  Johnson  and  Parker  Pillsbury.  The  follow- 
ing sketch  of  the  life  of  Mr.  Whiting  has  been  fur- 
nished us :  — 

He  was  born,  December  14,  1835,  in  Plymouth 
County,  Mass.,  where  he  received  his  education,  gradu- 
ating at  East  Bridgewater  Academy.  He  was  carefully 
educated,  but  never  entered  upon  a  classical  course. 
As  a  boy  at  school  he  was  remarkable  for  his  facility  in 
mastering  his  studies.  Endowed  with  a  wonderful 
memory,  he  seemed  to  acquire  by  intuition,  and,  what 
is  singular  in  one  who  learns  so  readily,  he  seldom 
forgot  anything.  His  delicate  health  never  permit- 
ted him  to  indulge  in  the  rude  sports  of  boys,  for 
which  he  manifested  no  inclination.  He  rather  sought 
the  society  of  those  older  than  himself,  in  whose  con- 
versation he  appeared  to  delight,  but  seldom  took  part. 
He  seemed  always  to  live  in  the  world  of  thought,  and 
not  of  action. 

He  came  to  Brooklyn  in  this  state,  with  his  parents 
and  sister,  in  1853,  where  he  lived,  doing  what  labor 
his  health  would  permit,  upon  the  farm  of  his  father. 
In  1860  he  removed  to  Albion  with  his  mother  and 
sister,  his  father  having  died,  which  place  he  made  his 
residence  up  to  the  time  of  his  death. 

He  began  his  career  as  a  public  speaker  at  the  early 
age  of  eighteen,  advocating  the  cause  of  Spiritualism, 
to  which   he   devoted  the    best  energies  of  seventeen 


182  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

years  of  his  life.  His  energy  and  perseverance  were 
untiring,  and  he  died  with  "harness  on  his  back." 

Notwithstanding  the  unpopularity  of  his  faith,  he 
won  "golden  opinions  from  all  sorts  of  people,"  and 
commanded  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  who  knew 
him.  Amidst  the  fierce  assaults  of  vituperation  and 
calumny  he  was  never  known  to  swerve  from  the  right 
or  falter  in  his  course. 

His  death  has  left  a  deep  void  in  the  ranks  of  those 
with  whom  he  was  identified,  which  can  not  be  easily 
filled. 

His  memory  will  be  ever  loved  and  respected  by 
those  whose  privilege  it  was  to  know  him.  He  was 
widely  known,*  having  delivered  addresses  in  nearly 
every  large  city  in  the  Union.  And  many  there  are 
throughout  the  land  who  will  be  sincere  mourners  at 
the  sad  news  of  his  death. 

In  the  private  walks  of  life  he  was  an  exemplary 
man.  His  honesty  and  integrity  were  the  common 
remark  of  all.  "  He  was  the  stainless,  spotless  man," 
one  who  would  "speak  no  slander  —  no,  nor  listen 
to  it." 

"  We  have  lost  him ;  he  is  gone. 
We  know  him  now;    all  narrow  jealousies 
Are  silent,  and  we  see  him  as  he  moved,  — 
How  modest,  kindly,  all-accomplished,  wise, 
With  what  sublime  repression  of  himself, 
And  in  what  limits,  and  how  tenderly. 
.     .     .     And  through  all  this  tract  of  years 
Wearing  the  white  flower  of  a  blameless  life, 
Before  a  thousand  peering  littlenesses." 


OBITUARY  NOTICES.  183 

From  the  Port  Huron  Commercial,  September  13,  1871. 
IN  MEMOKIAM. — A.    B.   WHITING. 

The  many  friends  and  admirers  of  A.  B.  Wlriting 
will  deeply  regret  to  learn  that  he  departed  this  life  at 
his  home  in  Albion,  in  this  state,  on  Monday,  the  4th 
inst.,  at  the  age  of  thirty-six  years.  Although  he  had 
long  been  in  delicate  health,  his  decease  at  this  time 
was  totally  unexpected.  Only  the  day  previous,  to  the 
surprise  of  many  to  whom  his  weak  state  of  health  was 
known,  he  had  taken  part  in  a  grove  meeting  of  Spirit- 
ualists, at  Spectacle  Lake,  where  he  delivered  an  ad- 
dress which  is  described  as  one  of  the  most  eloquent 
efforts  of  his  life.  The  unwonted  exertion  upon  this 
occasion  probably  hastened  his  departure,  and  was,  we 
may  say,  his  last  act  upon  earth.  He  went  home 
apparently  more  than  usually  prostrated,  although  he 
complained  but  little.  On  Monday  about  noon,  com- 
plaining of  feeling  "very  strange,' '  he  lay  down,  and 
shortly  after,  a  member  of  his  family,  hearing  him  make 
some  unusual  noise,  went  to  his  side,  and  found  him 
just  breathing  his  last.  He  passed  away  easily,  not 
seeming  to  realize  the  nearness  of  the  summoning  angel 
till  the  final  warning  came.  His  remains  were  followed 
to  the  grave  on  Wednesday  by  a  large  number  of  sor- 
rowing friends,  the  burial  services  being  conducted  by 
Miss  Susie  Johnson,  assisted  by  Rev.  Parker  Pillsbury. 

In  this  city,  last  Sunday,  a  memorial  address  was 
given  in  the  evening  by  Mrs.  Smith,  at  the  close  of 
which  Dr.  Pace,  after  some  brief  and  feeling  remarks, 
offered  a  series  of  resolutions  of  respect,  which  were 
unanimously   adopted   by  the   society.     We   may  also 


184  BIO  GRAPH T  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

incidentally  state  that  Dr.  Pace,  in  his  official  capacity 
as  American  consul  at  Sarnia,  caused  his  flag  to  be  sus- 
pended at  half  mast  during  the  day  after  the  reception 
of  the  news  of  Mr.  Whiting's  decease. 

So  closed  a  useful  and  a  busy  life.  For  seventeen 
years,  or  since  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  Mr.  Whit- 
ing has  been  in  the  lecture  field  advocating  the  cause 
of  Spiritualism.  To  this  cause  he  gave  without  stint 
the  treasures  of  his  rich  young  existence,  and  crowded 
into  a  few  short,  busy  years  the  work  of  a  lifetime. 
Many  who  read  this  will  remember  him  when,  a  mere 
boy,  he  appeared  in  our  midst,  and  spoke  with  the 
same  fervor,  the  same  tone  of  conviction,  which  glori- 
fied the  efforts  of  his  riper  years.  He  was  a  remarka- 
ble man,  with  a  gift  of  burning  eloquence  which  took 
all  hearts  by  storm. 

He  was,  with  his  other  gifts,  a  natural  musician  and 
a  musical  composer  of  no  ordinary  merit.  His  songs 
are  popular  wherever  the  English  language  is  spoken, 
and  in  such  surpassingly  sweet  and  tender  creations  as 
"Lena  de  l'Orme,"  "Leoline,"  "Touch  the  Lute 
gently,"  "  The  Wind  is  in  the  Chestnut  Bough,"  &c, 
he  has  called  forth  such  touches  of  sweet  harmony  as 
will  live  in  the  hearts  of  people  who  will  come  after  us, 
long  beyond  the  time  when,  in  the  busy  whirl  of  the 
world,  the  gifted  composer  would  else  have  been  for- 
gotten. 

We  do  not  wish  to  close  our  tribute  without  some 
slight  reference  to  Mr.  Whiting's  political  labors.  He 
was  all  his  life  an  ardent  Democrat,  and  during  the  can- 
vass of  1868  took  the  stump  in  favor  of  the  principles 
he  cherished.  Those  who  have  heard  him  will  bear  us 
witness   that   he    carried   with   him   into  the  political 


OBITUARY  NOTICES.  185 

arena  the  same  brilliant  and  captivating  style  of  argu- 
ment which  characterized  him  upon  the  religious  plat- 
form, only  intensified  by  the  exigencies  of  the  calling. 
Those  who  listened  to  him  with  such  rapt  delight 
upon  the  occasion  of  his  visit  to  this  place,  in  his  politi- 
cal capacity,  whatever  may  be  their  religious  differences 
with  him,  will,  we  are  certain,  think  of  him  kindly. 

He  always  appeared  to  have  a  preference  for  Port 
Huron  and  her  people,  and  to  visit  here  always  appeared 
to  give  him  especial  pleasure.  His  circle  of  warm 
friends  was  not  limited  to  those  of  his  own  belief,  but 
numbered  those  of  all  beliefs  and  all  parties.  With  his 
music  and .  his  attractive  conversational  powers,  he  was 
a  charming  addition  to  the  social  circle  ;  and  even  when 
his  bodily  sufferings  pressed  heavily  upon  him,  as  they 
often  did  in  his  later  years,  he  never  relaxed  his  efforts 
to  be  agreeable.  He  was  never  married,  and  rarely 
referred  to  the  subject  in  his  conversation  ;  but  from  the 
fact  that  the  burden  of  his  songs  was  principally  the 
"  tender  passion,''  we  have  often  fancied  that  perhaps, 
in  his  early  youth,  there  was  some  one  whom  he  had  loved 
and  lost,  and  some  time  hoped  to  meet  and  be  happy 
with  "  over  there."  No  word  was  ever  said  against  his 
private  reputation,  and  scandal  was  never  associated  with 
his  name,  which  he  took  with  him  unblemished  to  his 
grave.  His  habits  were  simple  and  unaffected,  and  his 
life  throughout  exceptionally  pure  and  blameless.  He 
resided  with  his  mother  and  sister  in  a  pleasant  home  in 
Albion,  where  the  family  had  the  sincere  respect  of  all 
who  knew  them.  His  friends  were  about  him  in  his 
last  moments.  Loving  hands  laid  his  body  to  rest,  and 
loving  hearts  will  cherish  his  memory  until  they  meet 
him  in  that  fair  land  of  promise  "  beyond  the  breakers." 


186  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 


MEMORIAL   SERMON  AT  LOUISVILLE. 

From  the  Louisville  Courier-Journal,  October  16,  1871. 
THE  DREAD   FUTURE. 

A  very  good  audience  gathered  in  the  west  wing  of 
Weisiger  Hall,  yesterday  morning,  to  hear  Rev.  Mr.  J. 
M.  Peebles.  His  discourse  was  upon  the  life  and  death 
of  A.  B.  Whiting,  a  gentleman  who  was  well  known  in 
this  city.  It  will  be  read  with  interest  by  the  many 
friends  of  Mr.  Whiting.  The  audience  last  night  was 
much  larger.  There  was  scarcely  standing-room  for 
those  in  attendance.  Mr.  Peebles  is  an  able  speaker, 
and  charms  his  hearers  not  only  with  his  oratory,  but 
with  a  freshness  and  vigor  of  thought  that  is  striking. 
The  following  is  only  a  synopsis  of  his  address  in  the 
forenoon :  — 

They  rest  from  their  labors,  and  their  works  do  follow 

them. 

Philosophically  speaking  there  is  no  death,  —  only 
change  onward  and  upward  for  ever.  It  is  evidently 
impossible  to  find  absolute  rest  in  the  universe.  Mo- 
tion is  everywhere,  and  change,  by  methods  inverse 
and  diverse,  is  a  fixed  law,  ever  evolving  the  more 
ether ealized  forms  of  life.  Leaves  are  now  failing  from 
the  maple,  the  oak,  and  the  elm ;  friends  are  falling ; 
all  your  eyes  have  wept  and  hearts  ached  ere  the  pres- 
ent occasion.  How  true  that  man,  the  earthly  man, 
"  dieth  and  waste th  away  "  ! 

Winter  dies  in  northern  latitudes  that  spring  may 
carpet  the  earth  in  grasses  and  grains ;  and  man,  the 


MEMORIAL   SERMON.  187 

mortal  of  man,  that  his  spirit,  disinthralled  from  the 
physical  organization,  may  traverse  space  and  pass  on 
in  its  path  of  destiny  toward  perfection. 

Being  knows  no  destruction.  Annihilation  is  a  mean- 
ingless term.  The  conservation  of  forces  demonstrates 
this  position.  It  is  physically  impossible  for  some- 
thing to  become  nothing ;  all  that  was  is,  and  eternally 
will  be.  Death,  so  called,  is  no  enemy,  but,  natural 
and  beautiful,  it  must  precede  immortal  life,  as  must 
the  acorn  the  oak,  or  the  bud  the  opening  flower. 
Stars  that  fade  from  our  skies  fade  to  illumine  other 
portions  of  the  sidereal  heavens,  and  friends  —  our 
cherished  friends  —  that  pass  on  through  the  valley  of 
shadows,  go  to  people  the  love-lands  of  immortality. 
They  take  with  them  consciousness,  reason,  memory, 
and  their  souls'  holiest  affections.  Pure  love  is  immor- 
tal. This  true,  our  dear  departed  loving  us  still,  they 
delight  to  project  their  thoughts  earth-ward ;  delight  to 
impress  us  with  the  increasing  beauties  of  their  pro- 
gressive existence  ;  delight  in  becoming  to  us  what  the 
facts  of  the  nineteenth  century  demonstrate  —  the  actu- 
ality of  ministering  spirits. 

Churchmen  joining  hands  with  deists  and  atheists  in 
denying  present  inspirations,  revelations,  and  communi- 
cations from  the  spirit  world,  generally  entertain  erro- 
neous conceptions  of  death,  speaking  of  it  as  a  "  tyrant," 
as  "the  king  of  terrors,"  and  picturing  it  as  a  grim, 
bony  skeleton,  with  scythe  mercilessly  mowing  down 
humanity.  And  then,  to  intensify  the  horror,  they  will 
join  in  this  Christian  hymn  :  — 

"  Hark!  from  the  tombs  a  doleful  sound; 
Mine  ears,  attend  the  cry ; 
Ye  living  men,  come  view  the  ground 
Where  you  must  shortly  lie." 


188  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

Such  hymns,  with  the  accompanying  theological  dog- 
mas, —  the  resurrection  of  the  body,  the  day  of  judg- 
ment and  future  endless  hell  torments,  —  are  the  pitia- 
ble remnants  of  an  imported  paganism.  The  preaching 
of  these  and  other  unreasonable  chimerical  doctrines, 
is  filling  the  country  with  a  scoffing  infidelity. 

To  Spiritualists  death  is  birth  —  the  second  birth,  into 
a  higher  state  of  existence.  The  body  returns  to  earth, 
to  reappear  again  only  in  grasses,  flowers,  and  forests. 
As  well  ask  the  oak  to  return  to  its  acorn,  the  winged 
bird  to  return  to  the  nest  and  reinhabit  the  shell,  as 
to  ask  an  immortalized  spirit  to  return  to  some  gloomy 
graveyard  and  take  on  the  dead  material  body.  "  Flesh 
and  blood  can  not  inherit  the  kingdom  of  God.  "  Paul 
further  said,  "  We  sow  not  the  body  which  shall  be." 
The  body  which  shall  be  is  the  "  spiritual  body,"  and  es- 
sential spirit  is  the  life,  the  conscious  intelligence  of  this 
spiritual  body,  connecting  mortals  with  immortals  and 
angels  with  God,  who  alone  hath  underived  immortality. 

All  the  popular  religions  of  the  day  rest  upon  tradi- 
tions. Spiritualism  alone  rests  upon  the  basic  founda- 
tion of  present,  tangible  facts.  It  is  the  living  witness 
of  the  future  existence.  Considered  historically,  it 
unites  the  past  and  present.  Referring  to  the  Bibles 
of  all  nations,  and  especially  the  Old  and  New  Testa- 
ments, we  see  that  immortalized  beings  held  conscious 
communion  with  mortals  for  some  four  thousand  years. 
Angels  or  spiritual  beings  appeared  to  Abraham,  Hagar, 
Lot,  Jacob,  Moses,  Elijah,  Gideon,  Ezekiel,  and  Zacha- 
riah.  Also  to  Mary,  the  mother  of  Jesus ;  to  the  two 
Marys  at  the  tomb  ;  to  the  shepherds  on  Judean  hills  ; 
to  Peter  in  prison ;  to  Peter,  James,  and  John,  on  the 
mount ;  to  John,  on  the  Isle  of  Patmos ;  and  nearly  all 


MEMORIAL   SERMON.  189 

of  the  scriptural  characters.  These  immortalized  beings 
are  sometimes  called  "angels,"  "  angels  of  the  Lord," 
44  men  in  shining  garments,"  "men  in  white  garments," 
44  men  of  God  ; "  44  the  man  Gabriel ; "  44  thy  fellow-ser- 
vant," &c,  showing  them  to  have  been  once  men  living 
upon  the  earth.  They  appeared  for  thousands  of  years, 
according  to  the  Scriptures  —  then  why  not  now  ?  Has 
God  changed  ?  Have  God's  laws  changed  ?  To  ask,  is 
to  answer  the  inquiry.  How  truly  did  the  preacher 
say  (Eccl.  iii.  15),  44  That  which  hath  been  is  now ; 
.  .  .  and  God  requireth  that  which  is  past."  More- 
over, Jesus  said,  44  These  signs  shall  follow  them  tnat 
believe.  .  .  .  They  shall  lay  hands  on  the  sick  and 
heal  them ;  make  the  lame  to  walk,  blind  to  see,  deaf  to 
hear,"  &c.  These  signs  do  follow  spiritualist  media  — 
but  churchmen  have  lost  the  spiritual  gifts  promised  in 
the  New  Testament.  The  apostate  and  44 fallen"  con- 
dition of  our  Christendom  is  a  painful  theme  for  reflec- 
tion. It  is  Babylon,  and  nothing  more,  while  Spiritual- 
ism is  original  Christianity  —  the  Christianity  of  Jesus 
and  the  apostles.  The  earliest  of  the  Christian  fathers 
had  spiritual  gifts  —  such  as  trance,  vision,  inspiration, 
and  prophecy.  So  had  the  most  distinguished  men  and 
women  of  the  ages  —  Constantine,  Tasso,  Savonarola, 
Joan  of  Arc,  Louis  XVI. ,  George  Fox,  Ann  Lee,  John 
Wesley,  Baron  Swedenborg,  and  hosts  of  others. 

Our  friend  and  your  friend,  A.  B.  Whiting,  who  has 
recently  ascended  to  the  homes  of  the  angels,  was  a 
most  able  and  efficient  advocate  of  the  phenomena  and 
philosophy  of  Spiritualism.  He  consecrated  to  this 
work  seventeen  years  of  his  life,  speaking  in  public  the 
very  day  previous  to  his  translation  to  the  world  of 
beatific  blessedness.     He   had   been  in  feeble   health 


190  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.  WHITING. 

nearly  a  year,  but  generally  filled  his  lecture  engage- 
ments up  to  the  summer  months.  Resting  a  while  from 
his  mental  labors,  his  most  intimate  friends  thought  him 
gradually  improving,  and  encouraged  his  attendance  at 
a  grove  meeting  in  the  vicinity.  He  addressed  the 
audience  in  his  usual  happy  and  eloquent  style,  and  at 
the  conclusion  improvised  a  beautiful  poem.  The  next 
day,  suddenly  complaining  of  illness,  and  tenderly  lean- 
ing upon  his  sister  Augusta's  shoulder,  he  calmly 
breatned  his  last  in  her  arms.  Our  loss  is  his  gain. 
Residing  ten  years  in  Michigan,  within  an  hour's  ride 
of  Albion,  I  frequently  shared  the  social  fellowship  and 
generous  hospitalities  of  friend  Whiting's  home,  as  well 
as  the  cheering  companionship  of  the  mother  and  sis- 
ter, with  whom  we  deeply  sympathize  in  this  trying 
affliction. 

It  is  but  justice  to  say,  that  those  who  knew  Mr. 
Whiting  best  esteemed  him  the  highest.  He  was  a 
man  of  positive  convictions,  of  keen  moral  perceptions, 
and  exalted  aspirations.  In  his  public  ministrations  he 
was  overshadowed  by  angelic  influence,  an  ancient 
Egypto-Persian,  a  cardinal  conversant  with  ecclesias- 
tical history,  and  others,  who  had  long  summered  in  the 
spirit  world.  Touching  historical  matters  relating  to 
the  church,  he  had,  as  a  lecturer,  no  equal  in  our  ranks. 
Superstition  quailed  and  bigotry  hid  its  hateful  head 
before  the  thrilling  inspirations  that  dropped  like  pearls 
from  his  lips.  His  musical  gifts  were  of  a  superior  char- 
acter. In  public  meetings  and  at  state  conventions  he 
sang  his  own  compositions,  thrilling  the  people  with 
such  melodies  as  doubtless  obtain  among  the  harpers 
that  the  mystic  John  heard  in  heaven.  Our  noble 
brother,  who,  at  the  bid  of  the  death  angel,  has  gone  up 


MEMORIAL   SERMON.  191 

one  step  higher,  loved  Spiritualism  —  loved  his  co-work- 
ers in  the  spiritual  vineyard;  and,  be  it  said  to  his 
lasting  praise,  he  never,  through  envy  or  jealousy,  vil- 
ified or  in  any  way  sought  to  undermine  the  influence 
of  his  fellow-toilers,  engaged  in  constructing  the  same 
spiritual  temple.  Many  would  do  well  to  emulate  those 
virtues  that  characterized  his  public  life.  His  was  a 
royal  nature  ;  and  now,  resting  from  his  earthly  "labors, 
his  works  do  follow  him." 

Last  evening,  attending  a  very  pleasant  and  har- 
monial  stance,  our  brother  announced  his  presence,  and 
assured  us  that  he  should  be  with  us  to-day,  while 
speaking  of  the  after-life  and  a  fadeless  immortality. 
He  then  gave  us  this  message :  — 

44  Tell  the  people  in  your  discourse  that  in  passing  to 
this  state  of  existence  I  found  that  the  principles  and 
doctrines  I  had  taught  under  the  control  of  my  angel 
guides  were  true,  and  that,  if  possible,  I  cherish  deeper 
desires  for  the  promulgation  of  the  heavenly  truths  of 
Spiritualism  than  when  in  the  body.  Much  that  was 
faith  then  is  fruition  now.  I  bask  in  the  smiles  of  those 
4  gone  before,'  and  am  supremely  happy.  My  vision  is 
enlarged,  and  the  future  is  all  radiant  with  the  grandeur 
and  glory  of  eternal  progress.  The  work  in  which  I 
was  engaged  must  and  will  go  on  to  complete  victory. 
I  had  hoped  to  address  my  Louisville  friends  once  more 
before  passing  to  this  life,  but  it  was  not  so  ordered. 
Pleasant  are  my  memories  of  them  and  all  the  friends 
of  earth.  I  find  this  world  more  real  and  beautiful  than 
I  conceived  it  to  be,  even  in  the  moments  of  my  loftiest 
inspirations.     I  shall  speak  to  you  again.     Good  night." 

This  message  was  given  in  an  earnest,  pathetic  tone, 
touching  the  depths  of  our  sympathetic  natures.     O, 


192  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

how  richly  are  we  blessed  in  this  privilege  of  convers- 
ing with  our  loved  ones  in  heaven !  Our  noble  self- 
sacrificing  workers  are  one  by  one  putting  off  their 
sandals,  and  passing  the  death-rolling  Jordan,  where 
their  white  feet  press  the  golden  shores  of  immortal 
blessedness.  The  Rev.  Dr.  J.  B.  Ferguson,  Mrs.  Al- 
cinda  Wilhelm  Slade,  and  more  recently  brother  A.  B. 
Whiting,  all  eloquent  advocates  of  the  spiritual  phi- 
losophy, have  put  on  their  crowns  of  rejoicing.  Angels 
are  their  companions,  and  Spiritualism  is  just  as  much 
better  than  any  churchal  system  of  religion  as  knowl- 
edge is  superior  to  faith.  "  Add  to  your  faith  knowl- 
edge," said  the  apostle  Paul.  Spiritualists  have  done 
this,  and  have  been  blessed  in  the  doing. 

Spiritualism  has  no  creed ;  Spiritualists  can  never  be- 
come a  sect.  To  crystallize  is  to  die.  Sectarisms,  under 
the  name  of  religion,  have  drenched  nations  in  blood, 
and  cursed  this  beautiful  earth  quite  too  long  already. 
Excelsior  is  the  divine  word  of  the  Harmonial  Phi- 
losophy. 

It  has  demonstrated  a  future  progressive  existence, 
converting  atheists,  deists,  and  secularists  to  a  knowl- 
edge of  immortality,  and  revealed  the  immutable  law 
of  compensation.  It  has  unrolled  before  us  a  new 
geography  of  the  heavens,  and  testified  that  no  personal 
devil  raves  "over  there,"  nor  brimstone  flames  scent 
and  soil  the  garments  of  the  risen.  Unbarring  the  gates 
of  death,  it  has  brought  the  loved  inhabitants  of  the 
summer-land  into  our  cities,  our  homes,  our  chambers, 
permitting  us  to  clasp  their  shining  hands,  and  listen  to 
the  music  of  their  voices.  It  has  given  the  world  new 
inventions  in  mechanism,  and  laid  open  to  view  the 
heretofore  hidden  laws  of  magnetic  reciprocity.     It  has 


MEMORIAL  SERMON.  193 

not  only  foretold  future  events  of  vast  moment  to  in- 
dividuals and  nations  when  aflame  with  the  living  fires 
of  prophecy,  but  it  has  warned  the  more  susceptible  of 
steamer  burnings  and  fearful  railway  collisions.  With 
the  wand  of  clairvoyance  it  has  scanned  ocean  beds, 
described  geologic  strata,  suggested  new  planets,  and 
measured  starry  distances,  while  scientists  were  lag- 
gardly  adjusting  their  instruments  of  observation. 
Under  the  name  of  psychometry,  it  has  read  by  oral 
emanations  the  unwritten  history  of  Egyptian  pyramids 
and  Assyrian  ruins,  of  Grecian  culture  and  Druidic 
worship,  and  can  trace  the  life  lines  of  mortals  by  the 
touch  of  ringlet  or  garment.  Each  act  is  photographed 
upon  the  conscious  sensorium.  The  judgment  seat  is 
within,  and  memory  is  the  recording  angel. 

Strengthening  the  weak,  warning  the  erring,  waking 
the  dormant,  unvailing  the  treacherous,  and  startling  the 
sinful,  it  continues  to  re-thunder  the  wilderness  words 
of  the  Baptist,  u  Repent  —  confess  and  forsake  your 
sins."  Only  the  "pure  in  heart"  see  God.  To  "him 
that  overcometh  "  is  the  promise  of  access  to  the  tree 
of  life.  Kindling  in  all  believing  souls  the  loftiest  en- 
deavor, Spiritualism  is  the  sweetest  answer  to  prayer, 
and  the  inspiring  genius  of  every  reform  movement  of 
the  times.  Meaning  science  and  progress,  morality  and 
pure  religion,  it  is  God's  living  word  to  humanity 
through  angels  and  ministering  spirits.  u  O,  come,  let 
us  worship  in  its  temple." 
13 


194  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.   WHITING. 


MEMORIAL  POEM. 

MY  BROTHER  STILL  LIVES. 

DEDICATED  TO   THE   MEMORY   OP  A.    B.    WHITING. 

My  brother  lives  !     O,  joy  to  know, 
Although  we  mourn  him  here, 

He  lives  again,  freed  from  all  pain, 
In  yonder  heavenly  sphere. 

Yes,  he  still  lives !  my  noble  friend, 
Although  on  earth  no  more 

We  listen  to  the  joyous  songs 
He  sang  in  days  of  yore. 

Others  his  music  oft  will  chant ; 

His  words  be  often  sung : 
While  his  familiar  voice  we  miss, 

Our  lips  with  grief  are  dumb. 

How  much  we  miss  him  none  can  tell, 
Save  those  who  knew  his  worth ; 

Yet  never  we  one  moment  doubt 
The  soul's  immortal  birth. 

Thy  son  still  lives  !  a  spirit  bright, 

O,  mother,  pure  and  true, 
And  often  sends  fond  words  of  love, 

Sweet  messages,  to  you. 


MEMORIAL  POEM.  195 

Our  brother  lives  !  dear  sister,  kind, 

In  whom  we  gladly  trace 
Resemblance  to  that  noble  form 

And  well-remembered  face. 

And  he  has  left  to  you  a  trust, 
Which  you  have  well  begun  — 

The  work  which  he  so  suddenly 
Was  called  to  leave  undone. 

But  we  shall  miss  his  earnest  words  — 

The  pulpit,  too,  and  press, 
Have  lost  in  him  an  advocate, 

Their  ablest  and  their  best. 

His  memory  lives  in  noble  deeds ; 

For  truly  it  is  said, 
No  words  of  slander  ever  passed 

The  lips  now  cold  and  dead. 

He  lives  in  name  from  east  to  west ; 

The  north  and  south  proclaim, 
His  eloquence  has  justly  earned 

An  eminence  to  fame. 

L.  E.  Bailey. 

Battle  Creek,  Michigan. 


196  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.   B.    WHITING. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

CONCLUDING  WORDS.  —  HIS  LECTURES  AND  IMPROVISA- 
TION.—  FAVORITE  SUBJECTS. 

In  conclusion,  I  have  but  few  words  to  offer.  Prop- 
erly speaking,  my  task  is  already  done ;  since  to  trace 
the  pathway  of  the  ascended  soul  is  not  within  the 
scope  of  my  intent,  and  on  the  hither  shore  its  wander- 
ings are  ended.  Yet  it  may  be  that  a  brief  backward 
glance  at  the  life  so  short,  and  yet  so  long,  will  not 
seem  inappropriate. 

First,  with  regard  to  his  spiritual  sight,  manner  of 
speaking,  &c,  I  will  give  his  own  statement  as  em- 
bodied in  a  paper  prepared  by  him  at  the  request  of 
Mrs.  Hardinge,  in  1867.  After  speaking  of  his  early 
possession  of  the  open  vision,  its  temporary  withdrawal, 
and  final  return,  he  says,  — 

"From  that  day  to  this, — over  thirteen  years,  —  I 
have  not  been  twenty-four  hours  at  once  without  this 
opened  vision ;  and  I  am  assured  that  this  gift  will  never 
wholly  leave  me  again,  and  that  the  changes  through 
which  I  was  passing,  mentally  and  physically,  made  it 
necessary  that  it  should  be  taken  from  me  for  the  six 
years.  Generally  speaking,  the  possession  of  this  gift 
is  productive  of  far  more  pleasure  than  pain,  but  there 
are  times  when  I  see  so  many,  and  they  come  in  such 
crowds,  that  it  produces  a  temporary  annoyance  —  a 
sort  of  pressure  upon  the  sight:  then  my  kind  guar- 
dian will  draw  something  like  a  vail  between  me  and 


IMPROVISATION.  197 

them,  and  they  are  shut  from  my  sight  for  the  time 
being. 

"Since  I  have  been  a  public  lecturer  I  rarely  get 
any  communication  direct  from  any,  except  my  own 
circle  and  personal  friends.  The  mass  of  spirits  that 
I  see  make  no  more  impression  upon  me  than  the 
crowds  I  would  meet  in  Broadway,  New  York,  at  mid- 
day. I  recognize  my  friends,  and  pass  on.  I  see,  not 
only  the  dead,  but  the  living  also,  in  places  where  their 
bodies  are  not.  This,  however,  is  not  a  constant  gift ; 
nor  do  I  see  these  as  clearly  as  those  who  have  left  the 
earthly  mold.  I  used  sometimes  to  get  the  two  con- 
founded, and  mistake  the  living  for  the  dead,  and  vice 
versa.  I  think  such  mistakes  on  the  part  of  mediums 
lead  to  many  cases  of  mistaken  identity  and  miscalled 
falsehood  on  the  part  of  spirits.  Now  I  rarely  mistake 
the  double  for  a  departed  spirit. 

"  It  is  now  thirteen  years  since  I  have  followed  this 
changing  life,  under  the  guidance  of  true  and  faithful 
guides,  who  have  never  deceived  or  misled  me  in  the 
slightest  degree.  During  these  thirteen  years  I  have 
seen  all  phases  of  spirit  control  and  demonstration  of 
which  I  have  ever  heard,  and  recognize  each  as  filling 
its  appropriate  sphere.  I  am  not  one  of  those  who 
would  wish  to  pull  up  the  ladder  on  which  I  have  as- 
cended, or  decry  any  form  of  mediumship,  however 
humble ;  nor  do  I,  like  some,  hold  to  the  vain  belief 
that  I  have  reached,  or  ever  shall  reach,  a  condition 
so  exalted  as  to  be  above  or  beyond  the  assistance  and 
inspiration  of  my  spirit  friends. 

"  My  manner  of  speaking  is  wholly  inspirational.  I 
rarely  know  beforehand  what  I  am  to  say,  or  even  the 
particular  theme  upon  which  I  am  to  treat,  but  am  fully 


198  BIOGRAPHT  OF  A.  B.  WHITING. 

conscious  of  what  I  say  at  the  time  it  is  spoken,  and  my 
remembrance  thereof  is  about  the  same  that  I  would 
have  of  another's  discourse  to  which  I  had  listened. 
Under  whatever  circumstances,  or  upon  whatever  theme 
I  may  speak,  I  recognize  the  same  support.  It  has 
never  failed  me  in  a  single  instance.  It  has  been  to  me 
an  educator,  bringing  forward  historical  facts  unknown 
to  me  previous  to  their  utterance,  but,  when  sought 
out,  found  uniformly  correct  in  substance,  and  some- 
times verbatim  —  philosophy  of  which  in  my  youth  I 
was  ignorant,  and  language  that,  of  myself,  I  was  in- 
capable of  using.  These  were  among  the  —  to  me  — 
strange  things  of  my  early  experience.  Now  they  are 
part  of  myself  in  mind,  and  matters  of  every-day  life 
in  reality,  as  well  as  form  and  expression. 

"  I  have  thus  obtained  a  good,  thorough  education 
without  the  routine  of  study  or  the  prestige  of  collegiate 
honor.  Connected  with  my  speaking  has  been  the  gift 
of  improvisation  upon  almost  any  given  subject.  Prob- 
ably in  my  lecturing  career  I  have  composed  extem- 
poraneous poems  upon  more  than  two  thousand  occa- 
sions. Last  winter  I  kept  account  of  the  number  of 
different  themes  improvised  upon  in  a  space  including 
November  and  December,  1866,  and  the  result  was 
forty-two ;  which,  I  think,  would  be  a  fair  average  for 
the  last  twelve  years." 

In  later  years  the  aid  and  support  of  which  he  speaks 
continued  with  him,  and  became  even  more  intimately 
blended  with  his  consciousness,  as  he  grew  nearer  allied 
to  the  spiritual  realm.  It  was  only  at  rare  intervals, 
when  physical  weakness  bore  heavily  upon  him,  that  he 
passed  into  the  utter  rest  of  unconscious  trance. 

His  favorite  themes  were  of  an  historical  character, 


FAVORITE   SUBJECTS.  199 

particularly  such  as  related  to  the  rise  and  fall  of 
nations,  civilizations,  and  religious  institutions,  with  the 
lessons  to  be  drawn  therefrom.  With  this  class  of  sub- 
jects he  became  especially  conversant,  but  by  no  means 
confined  himself  to  those.  As  I  have  before  observed, 
he  had  well-defined  opinions  upon  most  subjects,  and 
was  always  willing  to  state  and  defend  those  opinions 
upon  all  suitable  occasions. 

He  afiirmed  the  existence  in  some  form  of  the  spirit- 
ual ideas  of  immortality  and  spirit  communion,  or  rev- 
elation, as  basic  principles  in  all  religions  of  which  we 
have  authentic  record,  and  in  the  progress  of  religious 
ideas  in  the  past  saw  the  type  of  the  greater  progress 
possible  in  the  future. 

He  declared,  that  to  assert  a  finality  in  religious 
belief  and  attainment  was  as  absurd  as  to  assert  a 
finality  in  scientific  research,  and  that  there  was  no 
more  danger  to  true  religion  from  that  fact,  on  the  one 
hand,  than  there  was  to  science,  on  the  other.  He  as- 
serted the  supremacy  of  reason,  knowledge,  and  demon- 
stration over  mere  faith  and  belief. 

He  often  chose  subjects  of  a  scientific  cast,  as  the 
"  Antiquity  of  Man"  and  "  Origin  of  the  Races,"  and, 
especially  in  addressing  literary  societies,  a  still  more 
extended  variety  of  topics — "  The  Philosophy  of 
Life,"  "Happiness  the  Desire  and  Destiny  of  Man," 
"  The  Ideal  and  the  Real,"  "  Mission  of  the  Beauti- 
ful," and  many  others. 

His  political  addresses  were  always  devoted  to  the 
discussion  of  principles,  with  their  logical  tendencies 
when  carried  out  in  the  administration  of  government, 
and  not  of  mere  personal  issues.  Perhaps  his  most 
famous  efforts  in  the  political  field  were  those  of  1868, 


200  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.   B.    WHITING. 

wherein  he  treated  of  "  The  three  Corner-stones  of 
Despotism."  These  he  denned  to  be  —  first,  war 
with  its  consequence  —  a  standing  army;  second,  a 
large  and  increasing  public  debt;  and  third,  a  union 
of  church  and  state. 

His  line  of  argument  consisted  in  proving  by  histor- 
ical parallels  that,  wherever  these  three  requisites  had 
been  secured,  the  result  was  always  and  inevitably  the 
same,  namely,  despotic  rule,  under  whatever  name  of 
courtesy  it  might  be  called ;  and  in  pointing  out  the 
danger  that  in  his  view  seemed  to  threaten  to  lay  open 
the  possibility  of  such  a  combination,  and  the  method 
of  defeating  that  possibility,  and  thereby  averting  the 
danger. 

I  might  add  incident  after  incident  illustrative  of  his 
habits  of  mind,  his  readiness  of  resource  and  prompt- 
ness in  action,  his  unswerving  integrity  and  utter  fear- 
lessness in  defense  of  principle,  his  constancy  in  friend- 
ship, and,  more  than  all,  the  chivalric  devotion  to  his 
own  that  made  his  watchful  care  a  shield  and  a  defense 
ever  round  about  them  ;  —  but  of  what  avail  ? 

The  fullest  and  frankest  biography  must  be  to  some 
extent  superficial.  Every  human  soul  lives  two  lives  — 
the  inner  and  real,  only  shining  dimly  through  the 
outer,  the  seemingly  more  actual  existence.  Yet  the 
latter  is  all  that  we  can  grasp  sufficiently  to  embody 
in  words  and  give  it  to  the  world.  The  richness  of 
the  inner  life  can  not  be  thus  revealed,  but  stands  —  a 
sacred  mystery,  only  to  be  comprehended  by  the  quick- 
ened sense  of  kindred  souls.  Therefore  it  is  that  the 
sternest  conflicts  of  life  can  never  be  recorded ;  that 
through  the  darkest  paths  of  our  spiritual  pilgrimage 
we  must  walk  alone  —  absolutely  alone,  so  far  as  the 


CONCLUSION.  201 

outer  senses  reach ;  while  much  from  which  we  suffer 
most  acutely  could  never  be  revealed  to  others ;  still 
more,  could  never  be  understood,  if  it  were  revealed ; 
and  still  more,  ought  never  to  be  repeated,  if  it  could 
be  understood. 

It  is  customary,  as  I  am  aware,  to  conclude  a  work 
like  this  with  an  estimate  of  the  life  and  character  of 
the  subject.  This  I  shall  not  attempt,  lest,  in  the 
endeavor  to  restrain  eulogy  within  the  bounds  of 
modesty,  I  should  fail  in  justice.  His  life  and  labors, 
with  their  present  and  possible  results,  speak  for  him 
more  eloquently  than  words,  and  rear  unto  his  memory 
the  surest,  most  enduring  monument. 


PART  II. 
POEMS. 

BY 

A.    B.    WHITING. 

203 


EARLY    POEMS. 


MUSIC. 

Music,  sweet  Music,  thou  wondrous  theme, 
Of  which  poets  write  and  lovers  dream ; 
Sorrow  and  pain  are  forgotten  in  thee, 
And  sadness  gives  place  to  laughter  and  glee. 

Music,  sweet  Music,  thy  charms  all  admire, 
The  blithesome  youth  and  the  gray-haired  sire ; 
In  lowliest  hovel  or  gilded  saloon, 
Alike  they  call  thee  a  precious  boon. 

Dear  to  the  laborer,  hastening  away 

To  his  welcome  rest  at  close  of  day, 

Dear  to  the  noble,  the  prince,  and  the  queen, 

Gift  of  the  Most  High  where'er  thou  art  seen. 

Music,  blest  Music,  all  men  name  thee  fair, 
Pride  of  the  earth  and  gem  of  the  air ; 
No  other  enchantment  like  thine  doth  allure 
The  care-burdened  mind  unto  all  that  is  pure. 

205 


206  POEMS    OF  A.  B.   WHITING. 


PRO  LIBERTATE. 

Glide  on,  majestic,  rolling  river ! 
Give  thanks  unto  the  mighty  Giver 

That  thou  art  free ! 
No  chains  can  ever  stop  thy  course ; 
Thou  canst  not  be  subdued  by  force ; 

Flow  on  in  glee. 

O  lofty  mountain,  towering  high, 
Thy  summit  seems  to  reach  the  sky ; 

Thou,  too,  art  free : 
Still  thou  wilt  catch  the  sun's  first  ray, 
The  moon's  pale  light ;  a  tyrant's  prey 

Thou  canst  not  be. 

Ah,  no !    'Tis  not  the  lofty  mount, 
Flowing  river  or  silvery  fount, 

That  is  not  free. 
'Tis  man  —  O,  cruel  thought !    A  slave  ? 
O  God,  who  life  unto  us  gave, 

Can  such  things  be  ? 

Yes,  e'en  in  freedom's  boasted  land 
Man  is  deprived  by  might's  strong  hand 

Of  liberty ; 
Man  by  his  fellow-man  is  sold 
For  filthy  gain —  "  for  paltry  gold." 

What  mockery ! 


EARL  T  POEMS.  207 

Then  let  the  tears  for  Freedom  shed 
Draw  vengeance  on  the  hoary  head 

Of  Tyranny! 
And  let  us  strike  one  mighty  blow, 
Give  one  strong  effort  to  o'erthrow 

All  slavery ! 

Yes,  strike  !    Let  tyrant  custom  die, 
Its  advocates  for  quarter  fly 

To  liberty. 
Strike  !  for  the  flag  of  freedom  waves 
O'er  freedom's  land  and  freemen's  slaves; 

Let  them  be  free. 


IN  MEMORIAM. 
Apeil  1,  1853. 

I  had  a  brother  once, 

A  mild  and  beauteous  boy, 

A  pleasant,  young  companion, 
My  boyhood's  pride  and  joy ; 

Time's  unwearied  footsteps 
Still  onward  swiftly  glide  ; 

Eight  long,  long  years  have  passed 
Since  Willie  died. 

But  thought  still  turneth  back, 

With  fond  recollection, 
To  him,  the  object  of 

My  youth's  strong  affection. 


208  POEMS   OF  A.  &.   WHITING. 

No  tear-drop  glistened  in  my  eye ; 

I  neither  sobbed  nor  sighed ; 
They  told  me  that  I  cared  not, 
When  Willie  died. 


O,  could  they  but  have  known, 
What  none  may  ever  know, 

How  deep  the  inward  wound, 
The  heart's  unspoken  woe; 

For,  though  I  showed  no  grief, 
Although  I  never  cried, 

My  child-heart  sobbed  and  moaned 
When  Willie  died. 


O,   THINK  OF  ME! 

O,  think  of  me  when  fortune's  flowers 
Are  round  thy  pathway  strewn ; 

O,  think  of  me  in  pleasure's  hours, 
Wherever  thou  mayst  roam. 

O,  think  of  me  in  adversity, 
When  fortune  frowns  on  thee ; 

When  sorrow  checks  thy  buoyancy, 
Then  think,  —  O,  think  of  me ! 

O,  think,  then,  how  in  former  years 
We  roamed  o'er  field  and  glade, 

And  gave  no  thought  to  fashion's  gear, 
To  money  or  parade. 


EARLY  POEMS.  209 

O,  think  of  me,  although  I  go 

In  other  climes  to  roam, 
Where  other  flowers  may  blow 

Than  deck  my  childhood's  home. 

O,  think  of  me  !    Our  paths  may  blend 

Nor  meet  on  earth  again, 
But  years  may  pass,  and  still  your  friend 

I  ever  shall  remain. 
14 


WRITTEN    IMPROVISATIONS. 

1855-1857. 

FLOAT    ON. 

Float  on,  float  on,  my  heavenly  bark, 

Above  the  earthly  tide ; 
Bear  swiftly  o'er  earth's  trials  dark 

The  joys  that  with  thee  glide. 

Float  on,  and  truth's  serene  starlight 

Shall  guide  thee  swiftly  o'er 
Earth's  breaking  waves  and  gloomy  night, 

To  heaven's  happy  shore. 

Float  on,  my  graceful  moving  bark, 

And  ever  be  my  guide  ; 
I'll  ever  to  thy  whisperings  hark, 

And  by  them  will  abide. 

Float  on,  and  in  the  silent  night 

Thine  aid  I  will  invoke 
To  bear  me  to  a  land  of  light, 

Released  from  error's  yoke. 

'Tis  done  ;  on  wisdom's  plain  I  stand, 

Free  as  the  truth  I  breathe,  in  heaven's  happy  land ; 

Float  on,  blest  messenger  of  hope, 

And  minds  of  earth  to  wisdom  ope. 

210 


WRITTEN  IMPROVISATIONS.  211 


I    LOVED. 

I  loved  a  song-bird  of  the  spring, 
That  sung  his  wild  songs  of  glee ; 

I  loved  him  for  his  notes  of  joy ; 
They  sounded  sweet  to  me. 

I  loved  a  little  violet  peeping 
Above  the  mossy  ground, 

And  the  ivy  wild  a  creeping 
Upon  the  rocky  mound. 

I  loved  the  white-capped  waves, 
Dashing  wildly  and  free  ; 

The  sunny  shores  they  lave 
Were  beautiful  to  me. 

I  loved  the  deep,  blue  sea, 
And  the  sea-bird's  shrill  cry, 

The  proud  ship  beneath  me, 
And  the  cloudlets  on  high. 

I  loved  the  genial  clime 

Of  my  own  sweet  Italy ; 
I  loved  the  gentle  chime 

Of  love's  sweet  minstrelsy. 

I  loved  its  clear,  blue  sky  ; 

I  loved  its  fertile  shore  ; 
I  said,  "  My  own  sweet  Italy, 

I  ne'er  will  leave  thee  more." 


212  POEMS   OF  A.  B.   WHITING. 

I  loved  a  beauteous  maiden, 

Radiant,  rare,  and  beauty-laden ; 

When  she  was  near  me 

Heaven  was  around  me, 

The  sweet  spell  with  magic  bound  me. 

I  love  heaven's  glories  now ; 

I've  passed  from  earth's  dark  sphere  ; 
With  love's  own  crown  upon  my  brow 

I  come,  your  life  to  cheer. 

I  love  all  things  that  God  hath  made,  — 
The  flower,  the  tree,  and  singing-bird ; 

The  murmuring  stream,  the  leafy  glade, 
Are  all  to  me  as  God's  own  word. 

God's  word  is  found  in  everything : 

Go,  then,  and  wisdom  learn 
From  flowers  in  bloom,  and  birds  that  sing ; 

Learn  error  to  detect  and  truth  discern. 

'Tis  holy  love,  —  O,  heavenly  word !  — 

That  calls  us  from  our  home 
To  tell  the  tales  that  we  have  heard 

In  heaven's  celestial  dome,  — 

Where  song-birds  ever  warble  free, 

And  fairer  roses  bloom 
Than  earth  can  e'er  afford  to  thee, 

In  cypress  wreaths  of  gloom. 

Riches  that  never  fade  away, 
Love-joys  that  never  die, 


WRITTEN  IMPROVISATIONS.  213 

Roses  that  bloom  not  to  decay, 
Truth  ever  hovering  nigh,  — 

These  are  the  gems  of  heaven,  my  home, 

Peace,  harmony,  and  love  ;  — 
That  little  word  thrills  every  soul, 

From  earth  to  spheres  abo^e. 

O,  love  !  sweet  theme !  on  thee  I  dwell ; 
For  thee  I  tune  my  silvery  harp, 

And  touch  my  light  guitar ; 
For  thee  my  notes  in  rapture  swell, 
For  thee  I  tune  the  golden  shell, 

And  sing  of  worlds  afar. 


THE  FOUNT  OF  LIGHT. 

O,  COME  to  the  fount  of  living  light, 
And  drink  of  waters  pure  and  bright, 
Which  come  from  God,  divine  above, 
Whose  attributes  are  truth  and  love. 
O,  come,  and  pluck  the  fairest  flowers, 
That  bloom  in  heaven's  Elysian  bowers ; 
We'll  weave  them  in  a  garland  bright, 
And  fill  thy  soul  with  calm  delight. 

O,  come  to  us  when  trials  grieve  ; 
For  we  thy  side  will  never  leave. 
We'll  drive  dark  sorrows  all  away, 
By  kindling  truth's  immortal  ray ; 


214  POEMS   OF  A.   B.  WHITING. 

We'll  make  the  earth  with  praises  ring, 
As  we  our  songs  of  glory  sing, 
And  bring  the  angels'  purest  joy, 
Which  cares  of  earth  can  not  destroy. 

O,  come  to  the  mount  of  wisdom  high ; 
We'll  lead  thy  way  o'er  earth  and  sky, 
O'er  rock,  and  glade,  and  silvery  stream, 
Where'er  a  ray  of  love  shall  gleam. 
O,  come  where  truth  fills  every  soul, 
And  heavenly  strains  of  music  roll, 
To  blend  all  joys  in  harmony, 
In  heaven's  own  rapt  melody. 

O,  blend  our  lays,  ye  mortal  throng, 

With  earthly  poesie  and  song ; 

Let  earth  be  filled  with  heavenly  love, 

All  souls  in  gladness  ever  rove. 

Angels  bright  will  guide  your  way 

Where  love  and  truth  their  charms  display ; 

Will  guide  your  course  from  sphere  to  sphere, 

And  ever  be  your  guardians  dear. 

O,  come  where  heavenly  beauty  dwells, 
Where  mirth  and  song  each  spirit  swells ; 
Music  which  angels  only  know 
We  come  to  sing  to  you  below. 
Then  strike  again  the  minstrel's  lyre ! 
Then  light  again  heaven's  holy  fire, 
And  fill  the  earth  with  joy  and  glee  !  — 
The  love-lit  songs  of  spirits  free. 


WRITTEN  IMPROVISATIONS.  215 


THE    STAR    OF    TRUTH. 

The  star  of  truth  shines  o'er  me, 

And  my  soul  upbounds  in  love 
To  the  golden  orbs  that  shine 

In  heavenly  worlds  above. 
O,  brighter  far  and  clearer 

Than  diamonds  most  rare 
Are  those  gems  of  light  on  high, 

Where  thought  is  free  from  care. 

My  soul  is  filled  with  melody, 

And  thrills  with  blissful  joy 
To  breathe  a  joyful  lay  again 

Of  "  love  without  alloy." 
The  spirits  bright  around  me 

Are  singing  songs  of  love  ; 
Then  join  again  your  mortal  mind 

With  angel  choirs  above. 

Then  sigh  no  more  for  earthly  gems, 

That  glitter  and  decay, 
Nor  mourn  again  for  earthly  wealth, 

That  comes  to  pass  away ; 
But  lift  your  thoughts  to  brighter  joys, 

That  come  from  worlds  on  high, 
Where  wisdom  guides  and  love  responds, 

In  spheres  beyond  the  sky. 

O,  learn  to  love  the  beautiful, 

The  holy  joys  of  heaven ; 
Improve  the  words  of  wisdom  pure 

Which  angels  bright  have  given ; 


216  POEMS  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

O,  strive  to  blend  their  good  advice, 

In  every  walk  of  life, 
With  nature's  word  divine,  revealed, 

And  banish  fear  and  strife. 

My  soul  is  filled  with  joyous  glee, 

With  happiness  divine ; 
I  would  that  all  the  minds  of  earth 

Were  free  from  care  as  mine. 
I  rove  in  heaven's  resplendent  light, 

Where  beauties  know  no  end, 
Where  all  the  thoughts  that  fill  the  soul 

With  kindred  virtues  blend. 

We  speak,  we  sing,  we  ever  breathe 

Our  songs  of  joy  to  thee ; 
Proclaim  the  truth  to  all  mankind, 

And  make  their  spirits  free  I 


TRUE  LOVE. 

There  is  a  rose  in  nature's  garden 

Blooming  wild  and  free, 
Where  no  cold  wind  can  touch  its  leaves 

For  love  its  petals  be. 
No  autumn  frost,  nor  winter  snow, 

Nor  hoary-headed  time, 
Can  blast  that  flower  ;  for  truth  has  made  its  bed 

In  heaven's  blest  clime. 
Truth  is  its  couch  ;  its  tendrils  twine 

On  wisdom's  holy  tree, 


WRITTEN  IMPROVISATIONS.  217 

And  heaven's  genial  dews  fall  gently 

O'er  the  flowery  lea ; 
While  gentle  winds  are  wafting 

Its  fragrance  on  the  air, 
Sweet  songs  of  angel  tongues  arise 

Its  beauty  to  declare. 
Though  other  roses  round  it  bloom, 

And  share  its  lovely  bed, 
Still,  this  one  flower  above  them  all 

In  grandeur  rears  its  head. 
Around  it  flowers  of  varied  hue 

In  purest  beauty  blend, 
And  share  the  pearly  dew-drops  pure 

As  they  soft  descend. 
No  poison  weed,  nor  evil  stalk, 

Can  mar  its  mossy  bed, 
Nor  deadly  serpent  twine  its  folds 

And  rear  its  flattened  head 
Above  the  rose  ;  nor  yet  a  thorn 

Can  ever  there  be  found 
With  that  fair  rose  that  blooms  on  high, 

In  heaven's  holy  ground. 
That  flower  is  love  ;  for  truth  has  made  its  bed 

In  heaven's  sunny  land, 
And  in  the  human  soul  bright  angels  wake 

Its  music  bland. 
'Tis  nature's  rose,  implanted  in  the  mind 

By  God,  the  Source  of  all 
No  earthly  fetter  e'er  can  bind, 

In  error's  thrall, 
This  holy  gem,  which  God  has  given 

To  fill  earth's  sphere 


218  POEMS  OF  A.   B.    WHITING. 

With  higher  hopes  than  earthly  gems  bequeath 

'Twill  banish  fear. 
Not  carnal  joys  which  man  has  christened  love,  ■ 

0,  mockery  those ! 
A  poison  yew  tree  might  as  well 

Be  called  a  rose,  — 
But  holy  love  that  strikes  anew  the  harp 

Of  heavenly  hope, 
As  to  truth's  ever  glorious  light 

The  senses  ope. 
That  holy  charm  that  fills  all  space 

Below,  above, 
Which  angels  strive  to  wake  in  every  soul, 

Is  this  —  true  love. 


We  feel  its  magic  wand 
In  heaven's  happy  land  ; 
We  hear  its  music  bland, 
Sung  by  an  angel  band 

From  error  free. 
Its  glories  know  no  end, 
Its  beauties  ever  blend ; 
We're  happy  to  descend, 
In  harmony  to  lend 

Its  charms  to  thee. 


The  fount  of  light !  what  glories  swell 
And  ripples  sparkle  as  they  glow  ! 

A  sweet  tale  of  love  they  tell, 

Breathe  truth  and  wisdom  as  they  flow 


WRITTEN  IMPROVISATIONS.  219 

From  world  to  world,  from  sphere  to  sphere, 

While  every  world  in  glory  bright, 
Guided  by  beauty's  gondolier, 

Crowned  with  a  garland  of  love's  light, 
Moves  onward  in  its  wonted  course 

Untouched  by  error's  fiery  train. 
No  earthly  janglings,  loud  and  hoarse, 

Can  blot  with  their  foul,  sinful  stain 
The  starry  orbs  that,  twinkling,  move 

In  heaven's  vast  ethereal  blue ; 
Guided  by  wisdom  high,  they  prove 

The  beauties  pure  of  love  most  true. 


All  nature  sings  of  thee,  sweet  love, 

And  shall  I  cease 
Thy  ever-shining  beauties  to  unfold, 

And  joy  increase 
To  earth's  dark  minds  in  error  bound 

And  sorrow  dark  ? 
Or  shall  I  still  with  rapture  light 

Truth's  holy  spark, 
Blend  heaven's  celestial  notes 

With  hope's  gold  fane, 
And  to  thy  charms,  sweet  love,  still  pour 

My  joyful  strain  ? 
I  hear  thy  murmurings  in  my  soul : 

They  softly  tell, 
"  Let  strains  of  love  and  music  blended 

In  rapture  swell." 


220  POEMS  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 


O  fount  of  light,  thy  beauties  roll, 

And  penetrate  the  mystic  scroll 

Of  earth's  dark  errors ; 

All  doubts  and  terrors 

Flee  before  thy  glorious  light. 

Blest  love,  in  beauty  bright 

Thou  dwell' st,  pride  of  the  earth ; 

Sweet  child  of  heavenly  birth, 

Bright  gem  of  heaven  most  rare, 

Nurtured  by  truth's  celestial  air, 

Thou  art  free,  O  love,  in  worlds  on  high, 

Free  as  the  sunny  orb  in  yon  blue  sky  j 

Not  marred  by  error's  dark  perversion, 

Nor  checked  by  vanity's  assertion. 

O  beauteous  love,  thy  glories  fill  my  soul ; 

What  holy  strains  of  music  roll 

From  thy  celestial  name  ! 

Ever  thou  art  the  same, 

On  earth  below,  in  heaven  above, 

A  holy  truth,  a  carrier  dove  ! 

Thou  art  the  fount  of  light 

O  love  ;  thy  radiance  bright 

Shall  set  man  free. 
O  love  !  for  thee  I  wander  back  to  earth ; 
For  thee  I  leave  my  sunny  land 
Beyond  the  glorious  birth, 
And  chant  thy  music  bland. 


WRITTEN  IMPROVISATIONS.  221 


HAPPINESS. 

Sweet  bird  of  paradise,  thy  pinions  bend, 

And  to  this  earthly  vale  again  descend  ; 

Let  thy  blest  plumage  glitter  bright 

O'er  mundane  scenes  and  worldly  night ; 

And  still  inspire,  with  thy  love  notes, 

My  spirit,  as  to  earth  it  floats. 

And  thou,  blest  muse  of  heaven, 

Tlie  gentle  aid  which  thou  hast  given 

Still  shower  upon  my  head  in  sweet  profusion, 

That  earth's  dark  minds  may  know  our  mission, 

Descend,  I  pray  thee,  bird  of  heavenly  birth  ; 

Whisper  sweet  words  of  joy  to  minds  of  earth ; 

Tell  them  of  thy  genial  clime, 

Where,  lulled  by  Music's  gentle  chime, 

Angel  spirits,  bright  and  free, 

Sing  their  wild  songs  of  love-lit  glee. 

Where  darkened  minds  in  sorrow  dwell, 

There  tune  thy  voice,  and  let  thy  beauties  tell 

Of  heavenly  joys  and  pure  delight. 

But  no  ;  thy  home  is  heaven,  sweet  bird  ! 

Still  thou  canst  breathe  a  gentle  word 

To  cheer  us  in  our  work  of  love, 

And  be  our  beacon-light  above. 

Would  that  earth  might  know,  and  be, 

All  that  thou  hast  told  to  me. 

('Tis  Happiness  that  I  invoke 

To  free  mankind  from  error's  yoke. 

She  is  the  bird  of  paradise  that  dwells  above, 

In  the  beauty  of  all-pervading  love  ; 


222  POEMS    OF  A.  B.   WHITING. 

Of  her  I  sing ;  unto  her  charms 

I  tune  the  lay  that  now  my  spirit  warms.) 

Thy  home  of  love,  where  showers  of  holy  light 

Deck  thy  pinions  with  their  beauty  bright. 

We  are  hastening  onward  to  thy  sunny  shore, 

Where  truth  and  gladness,  free  from  earthly  lore, 

Reign  in  triumphant  loveliness ; 

No  error  gross  can  mar  thy  own  bright  holiness. 

For  thou  canst  feast  on  lilies  pure,  — 

Thy  glorious  beauties  ever  shall  endure,  — 

And  thou  canst  drink  at  Wisdom's  flowing  stream, 

Bright  heaven's  sunlight  o'er  thy  pathway  gleam. 

We  know  thy  land  is  fair,  sweet  bird  ; 

As  we  catch  each  holy,  love-lit  word, 

Each  gem  of  heavenly  beauty  rare 

Breathes  gentle  echoes  of  thy  home  so  fair. 

The  will  is  thine,  sweet  bird,  to  blend 

Love's  richest  gems, 
In  one  harmonious  whole, 

With  diadems 
From  thy  delightful  home, 

In  joy  divine, 
All  souls  to  lead,  in  wisdom's  light, 

To  thy  blest  shrine. 
Dark  minds  will  change  to  purity  ; 

Thy  magic  wand 
Falls  like  a  gentle  dew  of  love  ; 

Thy  music  bland 
Wafts  gentle  echoes  to  the  sorrowing  mind, 

In  purest  joy 
Ever  cheering  ;  earthly  tumults  high 

Can  not  destroy 


WRITTEN  IMPROVISATIONS.  223 

Thy  gentle  charm,  sweet  bird  of  fairy-land ! 

Yet  once  again 
Inspire  the  love-muse  in  my  soul, 

And  breathe  a  strain 
Of  thy  rapt  melody,  and  guide  my  soul  to  sing 

A  song  of  home. 
Chant,  in  thy  sweet  accents, 

Nenda  lone  ! 


SONG. 

Give  me  my  home  in  heaven  above, 

Where  bright  angels  warble 
Their  sweet  songs  of  love ; 

Where  love,  truth,  and  goodness 
In  harmony  blend, 

And  hope's  purest  beauties 
In  gladness  descend. 

\ 
I  wist  not,  I  grieve  not 

For  the  dark  things  of  earth ; 
My  spirit  has  passed 

The  glorious  birth ; 
All  nature  is  breathing 

Her  sweet  songs  of  love 
To  guide  every  spirit 

To  pure  joys  above. 

Then  give  me  the  gems 

Of  heaven's  blest  home, 
Where  bright  spirits  happy 

So  joyously  roam  — 


224  POEMS    OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

And  thou,  lovely  bird, 

Of  heaven's  blest  clime, 
Descend  to  this  earth 

In  the  fullness  of  time, 
That  this  world  below, 

And  the  heavens  above, 
May  join  in  one  song 

Of  beauty  and  love. 

O  Happiness,  still  breathe 

Thy  notes  of  gladness, 
And  earthly  minds  enwreathe 

With  joy,  their  course  to  bless ! 
Bird  of  the  summer  land, 

Thy  form  bedecked  with  beauty  rare, 
The  bright-eyed  angel  band 

In  heaven's  celestial  air 
Gazes  with  rapturous  delight 

On  thy  refulgent  beauty  ; 
Thy  golden  pinions  bright 

E'er  guide  to  truth  and  duty  ; 
For  happiness  divine, 

Our  being's  end  and  aim, 
Its  gems  of  light  are  mine  ; 

All  may  its  charms  attain  ; 
Its  beauty  can  alone  be  found 

In  love's  eternal  charm 
Which  wisdom  high  has  bound 

To  shield  it  from  all  harm. 
True  happiness  above  doth  dwell, 

In  quietude  and  calm  content, 
Where  love's  own  music,  magic  spell, 

Its  holy  charm  hath  lent. 


WRITTEN  IMPROVISATIONS.  225 

Not  in  the  gilded  hall  alone 

Is  pleasure  found,  and  purest  joy, 
But  in  the  cottage  oft  are  blown 

Pure  truths  without  alloy. 
Not  in  the  gorgeous  palace  hall 
Where  monarchs  rule  and  kingly  thrall 
Is  law  and  truth ;  where  humble  courtiers  serve 
A  tyrant,  from  whose  will  they  dare  not  swerve  ; 
Nor  in  the  marble  festive  hall, 

Decked  with  costly  gems,  and  robed  in  splendor  all. 
Though  earth's  diadems  may  glitter  bright 
By  yon  chandelier's  brilliant  light, 
And  beauteous  forms  may  move  to  music's  measure, 
Or  laughter's  peal  proclaim  earth's  pleasure, 
Discordant  minds  may  mingle  there, 
Minds  bowed  down  with  earthly  care, 
Or  some  unholy  passion's  stain 
May  lead  the  soul  afar  from  truth's  bright  fane. 
The  outward  form  may  be  beauteous  and  fair, 
The  smiling  face,  the  sparkling  eye,  and  lustrous  hair 
May  tell  a  sweet  tale  of  truth  ; 
While,  cased  within  the  comely  youth, 
Error  and  darkness  have  entwined 
Their  folds,  and  seek  to  bind 
The  little  germ  that  God  hath  planted  there 
T' unfold  in  beauty  in  heaven's  home  so  fair. 
But  when  the  soul  by  love's  pure  chain  is  bound, 
And  wisdom  dwells  with  beauty,  to  surround 
That  germ  which  God  hath  given,  —  . 
To  dwell  on  earth  and  live  in  love  in  heaven,  — 
Then  truth  and  goodness  wreathe  a  chain 
Of  purity  ;  love's  music  breathes  a  gentle  strain 
15 


226  POEMS  OF  A.  B.   WHITING. 

Of  heavenly  bliss  ;  ecstatic  joy  divine 

All  hearts  shall  gladden  as  it  quickeneth  mine. 

True  happiness  alone  is  found 

Where  heaven's  beauties  all  combine. 

The  soul  in  beauty  must  abound, 
And  purest  joys  entwine. 

Then  blow,  gentle  winds,  from  heaven's  blest  clime, 

And  breathe  pure  notes  of  bliss  ! 
Waft  love-music's  holy  chime, 

And  beauty's  honeyed  kiss  ! 

Sing  holy  songs  of  heaven  divine, 

And  notes  of  purest  joy, 
Where  glee  and  gladness  both  entwine 

Pure  love  without  alloy. 

Angel  bands  on  high,  in  glory  bright, 

Will  bring  pure  thought  to  thee 
From  their  blest  home  of  pure  delight, 

Where  every  soul  is  free. 
And  thou,  sweet  bird  of  heaven, 

I've  tuned  my  muse  to  sing 
Thy  charms,  which  God  has  given  ; 

I  pray  thee,  gentle  bird,  to  bring 
Fresh  garlands  from  thy  happy  home, 

And  sing  of  wisdom  evermore, 
Where  loved  ones  gone  in  beauty  roam, 

On  heaven's  happy  shore. 

I'll  tune  my  love-lit  harp 
To  thee  again,  sweet  bird, 


WRITTEN  IMPROVISATIONS.  227 

And  tune  my  minstrel  lyre  to  sing 

The  love-tones  I  have  heard. 
Farewell,  then,  now  ;  and  when 

In  thy  blest  loveliness 
Thou  com'st  to  dwell,  O,  then, 

Happiness,  eternal  and  divine, 
All  souls  shall  wreathe  with  beauty 

As  it  circle th  mine. 


A  LEGEND  OF  EARTH  AND  AIR. 

"  O,  LET  me  not  die  in  spring-time !  " 

I  heard  a  maiden  say  ; 

"  Earth  looks  too  bright  and  winsome, 

Too  beautiful  and  gay. 

The  grass  is  gently  peeping 

Above  the  damp,  cold  ground, 

And  birds  are  sweetly  singing 

In  gladness  all  around. 

"  O,  let  me  not  die  in  spring-time  ! 

Spring  life  is  so  joyous  and  free  ; 

I  would  list  again  to  the  whippoorwill's  song 

And  the  busy  hum  of  the  bee. 

I  would  see  the  lakelets  melting 

'Neath  the  sunshine's  genial  ray, 

For  long  has  winter  held  them 

Beneath  his  iron  sway." 

"  O,  let  me  not  die  in  spring-time  !  " 

This  feeble  maiden  said, 

As  she  laid  her  slender  hand 

Upon  her  fevered  head. 


228  POEMS   OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

"  O,  I  would  like  to  see  again 
The  little  voilets  bloom, 
Before  I  take  my  long,  last  sleep 
In  the  cold  and  darksome  tomb." 

The  spring-time  passed  away ; 

The  gorgeous  summer  came ; 

Night's  gentle  dewdrops  sweetly  kissed 

The  rose's  crest,  the  lily's  bud. 

All  earthly  beauties  seemed  to  blend ; 

'Twas  nature's  nuptial  season. 

Angels  still  watched  by  the  bedside 

Of  that  feeble,  timid  maiden 

Who,  unconscious  of  their  presence, 

Dreamed  that  earth  was  all  the  love-life, 

All  the  joyous,  happy  free  life, 

That  a  mortal  could  enjoy. 

She  only  knew  what  man  had  taught  her 

Of  the  angel  world  above  ; 

She  supposed  she  could  not  see  it 

Till  the  resurrection  dawn. 

She  could  not  hear  the  gentle  music,  — 

Music  soft,  and  wafted  sweetly 

From  those  homes  of  bliss  on  high, 

Where  the  loved,  who'd  gone  before  her, 

Dwelt  in  beauty,  pure  and  bright. 

She  knew  not  that  the  spirits  sung 

Songs  of  love,  and  hope,  and  joy. 

It  was  a  starry  evening 

When  she  tuned  her  voice  again ; 
Still  feebler  was  its  accent, 

Sad  was  the  mournful  strain : 


WRITTEN  IMPROVISATIONS.  229 

"  O,  I  would  not  die  in  summer ! 

'Tis  the  blossom  of  the  year  ; 

I  would  twine  a  flowery  garland 

For  the  friends  I  love  so  dear. 

See  !  — the  roses  kiss  each  other 

As  they  bend  beneath  the  dew , 

They  look  so  free  and  happy, 

So  beautiful  and  true. 

O,  let  me  not  die  in  summer ! 

For  it  is  the  happy  season 

Of  bird  and  flower  and  tree  ; 

For  the  future  looks  dark  and  dismal ; 

It  brings  not  life  and  health  to  me. 

If  I  could  be  a  singing  bird,  and  live, 

I  now  would  loudly  sing  for  joy  , 

Sad  as  I  feel,  I'd  banish  sorrow's  strife, 

Taste  bliss  without  alloy. 

O,  could  I  live,  and  be  a  rose 

In  some  romantic  spot, 

I  could  most  happy  be 

In  lonely  dell  or  shady  grot. 

Life,  life,  is  all  I  ask  ; 

I  care  for  nothing  more ; 

'Tis  what  no  power  but  one  can  give, 

The  power  that  gave  before. 

But,  if  I  must  die  in  summer, 

At  nature's  bridal  hour, 

O,  bury  me  'neath  the  roses 

In  some  sweet,  lovely  bower. 

O,  let  me  not  die  in  summer  ! 

I  love  it  better  now  than  ever  ; 

I  fain  would  sing,  but  vain  endeavor ; 

O,  life,  from  thee  so  soon  to  sever, 


230  POEMS   OF  A.   B.    WHITING. 

'Tis  sad  and  dreary ;  dark,  sad  thought 

To  burst  asunder  every  tie, 

Part  from  all  I  hold  so  dear, 

And  lay  me  down  to  die. 

Oh,  must  it  be  ? 

Summer,  sweet  season, 

Must  I  part  from  thee  ? 

The  morning's  brightness ; 

Noontide's  sun, 

Bright  joy  and  lightness, 

Must  I  go  from  thee  forever  ? 

Must  I  every  love-tie  sever?  " 

Then  she  sadly  closed,  her  eyelids, 

Those  bright  eyes  that  oft  had  beamed 

With  joy  and  pleasure,  pure  and  free  ; 

And  her  brow  grew  paler,  colder ; 

In  the  sleep  of  death  she  lay. 

Her  auburn  hair  in  tangled  masses 

Kissed  her  pale  and  sallow  cheek, 

Clasped  were  her  tiny  hands,  — 

Those  lovely  jeweled  hands, 

That  oft  had  plucked  the  blooming  flower 

And  twined  the  golden  band 

Of  summer  roses  —  cold  in  death. 

Yes,  she  died  in  summer, 

While  the  birds  were  singing  sweetly, 

While  the  sun  was  shining  brightly, 

In  nature's  bridal  season ; 

She  was  buried  'neath  the  roses, 

In  a  bright  and  lovely  bower, 

Where  the  tall  green  trees  are  waving  — 

Sadly  waving,  —  o'er  her  grave 

And  the  wild  rose  sweetly  blossoms, 


WRITTEN  IMPROVISATIONS.  231 

Nature's  love  birds  freely  sing ; 
At  the  evening,  sad  and  plaintive, 
Sings  the  night  bird  loud  and  long ; 
Birds  of  morning,  birds  of  evening, 
Pour  their  thrilling  lays  of  love, 
And  the  whippoorwill  of  spring-time 
Sits  upon  the  marble  stone 
In  the  calm  and  lovely  twilight, 
Tunes  his  tribute  to  the  maiden. 
She  loved  all  of  nature's  beauties 
That  the  mortal  eye  could  see  ; 
Beauties  all  combined  within  her ; 
She  was  love,  and  loved  to  all. 
Spring's  radiant  verdure  bright 
And  summer's  loveliest  flowers 
Were  her  companions  in  earth  life, 
Were  her  playmates,  were  her  jewels ; 
For  affinity  of  soul  was  there  — 
Soul  with  flower  and  bird  uniting 
In  the  sweetest,  happiest  ties. 
She  sleeps,  as  mortals  say, 
Beneath  the  ground,  beneath  the  stone  ; 
And  pine  trees  gently  waving, 
Softly  waving,  murmur  back 
A  brief,  low,  sad  response. 

Months  rolled  away,  and  autumn 
Came  with  sere  and  yellow  leaf, 
With  its  hoarse  winds  chilly  blowing, 
With  its  sheaves  of  golden  corn, 
Ripened  fruit  in  bunches  hanging 
From  the  low  and  drooping  boughs ; 
And  the  forest  trees  were  scattering 


232  POEMS    OF  A.   B.    WHITING. 

Fast  their  leaves  upon  the  ground, 
And  all  beneath  looked  dark  and  drear. 
Came  this  maiden's  sister,  brother, 
To  her  grave  at  close  of  day. 
'Twas  a  silent  moonlight  evening, 
For  the  sun  had  gone  to  rest 
Behind  the  toAvering  mountains, 
The  lofty,  snow-capped  mountains. 
The  cold,  pale  moon  shone  brightly, 
Gently  twinkled  many  a  star, 
And  the  brightest  star  of  evening, 
Venus,  holy  queen  of  love, 
Shed  her  rays  upon  the  youth, 
Youth,  and  happy  joyous  maiden 
That  was  standing  by  his  side. 
Sister,  said  I  ?  brother's  loved  one  , 
('Tis  all  the  same  to  me.) 
He  was  brother  to  the  maiden, 
To  that  summer-loving  maiden 
Who  was  buried  'neath  the  roses. 
They  came  with  tearful  eyes  to  view 
Again  the  spot  where  they  saw  placed, 
The  form  of  her  they  loved  so  well. 
The  youth  knelt  down  upon  the  mound 
Beside  the  stone,  and  with  emotion 
Deep,  and  quivering  accents,  said, 
"  Here  sleeps  the  loved  one,  sister  dear  : 
I  weep  for  that  bright  eye  and  face, 
Radiant  with  joy  and  loveliness. 
I  weep  while  ivy  wild  is  creeping 
Over  the  stone,  and  stars  above 
Their  love-watch  pure  are  keeping. 


WRITTEN  IMPROVISATIONS.  233 

Sister,  thou  hast  left  forever, 

Left  me  never  to  return,  — 

Left  me  to  the  cold,  dark  world,  — 

World  of  sorrow,  care,  and  pain ; 

Thou  hast  loved  me  ;  I  have  loved  thee  ; 

And  I  never  can  forget  thee,  sister  dear  •  — 

Thy  pure  young  mind,  thy  kindness." 

Then  the  maiden  knelt  beside  him,  — 

There  in  silence  long  they  knelt, 

Till  the  cold  wind  pierced  them,  — 

Chilled  them.     The  cold  and  dreary  wind 

Mourned  through  the  swaying  branches 

Of  the  tall  and  gloomy  pines : 

Then  there  came  a  dove  and  cooed 

Sadly,  mournfully  above  them ; 

And  the  waving  of  the  pine  trees 

And  the  cooing  of  the  dove 

Added  sadness  to  their  sorrow. 

They  arose,  enrapt  in  grief, 

Yet  silently,  to  pass  away 

From  the  sad  spot  where  lay  the  sleeper,  — 

When  they  heard  a  sweet  voice  singing,  — 

Gently,  softly,  sweetly  singing, 

With  a  beauty  far  above 

All  earthly  music,  mundane  song : 

Struck  with  surprise  they  stood, 

Yet  still  the  voice  sang  on. 

It  was  his  sister's  voice  ;  she  sang 

A  wild  and  thrilling  lay ; 

The  sweet,  pathetic  music  fell  in  strains 

Melodious  upon  the  listening  air. 

Then  her  form  in  angel  beauty 

Hovering  o'er  them  they  did  see,  — 

With  a  robe  of  snowy  whiteness, 


234  POEMS   OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

With  a  face  of  dazzling  beauty ; 
Her  bright  eye  was  softly  resting 
Upon  those  loved  ones  near  and  dear ; 
Her  glossy  auburn  ringlets  waved 
O'er  her  brow  of  spotless  white, 
And  the  autumn  cold  and  wild  around 
Pierced  not  her  heavenly  robe  ; 
She  softly  whispered,  "  Brother,  sister, 
I  am  not  dead  ;  I  live  above." 


SONG. 

"From  a  land  of  fadeless  beauty 

I  have  come, 
To  tell  of  joy  and  purity 

In  heaven's  home. 
From  the  land  where  roses  blossom 

Evermore, 
With  love's  blest  charm  within  my  bosom, 

Wisdom's  store ; 
From  a  home  where  truth  entwineth 

Sweetest  flowers, 
And  with  gems  of  thought  enshrineth 

Happy  hours,  — 
Where  stars  of  truth  are  ever  shining 

Bright  above, 
And  every  beauty's  interlining 

Songs  of  love  ; 
Where  song  birds  ever  gayly  sing, 

Blithe  and  free : 
All  to  them  is  nature's  well-spring 

Full  of  glee. 


WRITTEN  IMPROVISATIONS.  235 

We  dwell  where  all  is  pleasure 

Fond  and  fair ; 
Celestial  beauties  without  measure,  — 

Gems  most  rare,  — 
Fall  upon  each  soul  in  heaven  land 

Plenteously ; 
There  gems  of  thought  adorn  love's  band 

Gloriously ; 
Music's  silvery,  joyous  strain 

Sweetly  sounds; 
Afar,  o'er  hill  and  plain, 

It  resounds. 
In  the  angel  country  thought  is  free,  — 

Free  indeed ; 
Its  golden  beauty  all  can  see, 

All  can  read ; 
There  new  fields  of  thought  are  spreading 

For  the  mind : 
O,  'tis  ever  good  and  cheering 

Truth  to  find. 
I  love  my  happy  spirit  mansion  — 

Home  on  high  ; 
'Tis  not  a  flitting  zephyr  transient, 

In  the  sky, 
But  a  land  where  summer's  love-flowers 

Ever  bloom, 
In  bright,  unfading  bowers, 

Beyond  the  tomb. 
Earth  is  not  the  only  love-life, 

As  I  thought, 
But  a  land  with  every  joy  rife 

Can  be  sought,  — 
Sought  and  found  by  every  mortal, 


236  POEMS   OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

Who  will  live 
As  though  he  stood  at  heaven's  portal, 

Saying,  Give ! 
O,  I  love  to  come  to  earth-land, 

From  my  home 
Of  light  and  beauty  bland, 

Free  to  roam. 
So,  when  birds  of  spring-time  warble 

I  will  come, 
And  beside  the  silent  marble 

Gently  thrum 
The  lute-strings  of  my  soul, 

Breathe  a  strain 
Of  joy,  let  music  sweetly  roll 

Yet  once  again. 
When  the  summer  flowers  are  blowing, 

I  will  twine 
A  wreath  of  fairest  roses,  showing 

Love  divine. 
Yes,  I  still  can  whisper  love  songs 

Wild  and  gay ; 
Spirits  pure,  in  heaven's  love  throngs, 

Softly  say, 
•  Song  is  bright,  and  pure,  and  holy, 

In  that  clime 
Where  all  is  love,  and  truth,  and  beauty, 

Music's  chime.' " 

She  ceased  to  sing  ;  and  echo, 
Murmuring  softly,  sweetly,  gently,  — 
Breathing  strains  of  love  divine,  — 
Wafted  back  the  heavenly  music 
To  the  loving,  listening  pair. 


WRITTEN  IMPROVISATIONS.  237 

And  the  pale  moon,  silvery  shining, 

And  the  twinkling,  glimmering  stars, 

Looked  mildly  down  on  shadowy  earth-land 

From  the  clear  blue  sky  above. 

All  nature  seemed  inspired  with  music  ; 

The  cold  breeze,  sighing  in  the  pine  trees, 

Seemed  to  wake  an  answering  song, 

And  the  leaves  of  autumn  falling, 

Moved  with  heavenly  harmony. 

Then  sweet  echo,  sweetly  singing 

In  love  tones,  gently  seemed  to  say,  — 

"  O,  ye  pine  trees,  tune  your  branches, 

Treasure  beauties  in  each  bough ; 
O,  ye  rivers,  murmur  softly, 

Sing  the  songs  of  heaven  now. 
Roll  proudly  on,  thou  silvery  night  orb, 

Light  earth's  children  through  the  night ; 
When  the  day-star  sinks  to  rest, 

Shed  thy  pale  and  loving  light. 
Ye  stars,  that  ever  brightly  twinkle 

In  the  sky  of  azure  blue, 
Teach  earth's  minds  in  love  to  mingle 

With  the  beautiful  and  true. 
Youth  and  maiden  by  the  moonlight, 

Listening  to  that  angel  voice, 
Let  your  souls  respond  with  trust, 

And  }rour  hearts  in  love  rejoice.' ' 

So  ends  my  legend  strange  ; 
And  if  by  its  wild  strain 
I  touch  a  chord  responsive 
In  the  human  soul,  I  will  again 


238  POEMS    OF  A.   B.  WHITING. 

Awake  the  love-notes  of  my  spirit, 

Tell  a  wild  and  thrilling  tale 

To  light  earth  minds  with  interest, 

Waft  again  thought  gems  to  assail 

With  truth's  eternal  shaft ; 

With  arrows  barbed  strike  pale  error's  heart, 

Descend  from  heaven's  eternal  spheres 

The  angel's  love  words  to  impart. 


SHE  WAS  A  ROSE. 

She  was  a  rose ;  the  sunbeams  kissed 

Her  pure  white  brow  ; 
The  balmy  breeze  her  ringlets  tossed ; 

Her  voice,  I  trow, 
Was  sweet  as  JEolian  melody, 

When  angels  bright 
Inspire  the  soul  with  joy,  and  sing 

Of  love's  delight. 

She  was  a  rose  ;  the  moonbeams  played 

Around  her  form, 
And  nature's  dewdrops  nourished  her 

From  night  till  morn. 
'Twas  in  the  lovely  summer  time, 

When  all  was  gay, 
That  my  loved  Caradora,  dear, 

First  saw  the  day. 

Where  the  Adriatic's  waters 
Roll  along  in  glee, 


WRITTEN  IMPROVISATIONS.  239 

And  lave  the  genial  shores 

Of  Italy,  — 
(Italia,  once  my  happy  home 

Of  joy  and  love, 
Where  sleeps  the  form  my  spirit  left, 

To  dwell  above),  — 

There  lived  a  beauteous  maiden,. 

Happy  and  free, 
Heaven  glowing  charms  combined 

With  mirth  and  glee. 
I  loved  her  ;  but  the  cold  dark  world 

Knew  not  the  charms 
With  which  pure,  holy  love,  eternal, 

The  spirit  warms. 

• 

The  grasp  of  iron-hearted  priests 

Stole  my  fair  one. 
I  wept  with  heartfelt  anguish  when 

The  deed  was  done. 
The  convent  wall  loomed  up  between 

Me  and  the  maid 
Who  first  had  taught  my  soul  to  love. 

I  sadly  laid 
My  hand  upon  my  heaving  bosom, 

Sought  repose : 
I  could  not  sleep ;  my  soul  could  only  say, 

"She  was  a  rose." 

Years  rolled  away :  I  saw  the  form  I  loved 

Laid  in  the  ground. 
I  saw  the  hireling  priest  stand  sanctimoniously 

Above  the  mound, 


240  POEMS   OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

Blaspheme  the  holy  name  of  love, 

And  dare  to  say, 
That  God  in  wrath  and  vengeance  dark 

Had  ta'en  away. 
I  dared  not  speak,  although  my  heart 

Was  full  of  woes  ; 
My  soul  in  sorrow  whispered  soft, 

"  She  was  a  rose." 

'Tis  past  and  gone  ;  death  came 

To  my  relief ; 
I  laid  my  earthly  form  aside,  — 

My  woe  and  grief. 
Death  came  —  a  messenger  of  love  — 

To  lead  my  soul 
To  those  blest  lands  of  light  on  high, 

Where  beauties  roll, 
And  heavenly  truth  sits,  calm-browed, 

On  the  shore, 
Where  all  is  joy  and  gladness 

Evermore. 

O,  life  of  love  in  heaven ! 
My  spirit  swells 

With  untold  wishes  to  return  to  earth, 
And  ever  tell 

Of  that  bright  home 

Where  sorrow  can  not  come,  — 
Where  all  is  bliss  divine,  — 
Where  truth-stars  ever  shine, 
And  wisdom  e'er  doth  guide  ; 
Where  peace  and  hope  abide. 


WRITTEN   IMPROVISATIONS.  241 

But,  while  heaven  lives  and  moves, 

And  living  beauty  proves 
That  love's  blest  fount  for  ever  flows, 
I'll  ever  sing  in  accents  soft 

"She  was  a  rose." 


\ 
HOPE. 


Sweet  flower  of  heaven-land,  gem  divine, 
Hope  ever  doth  fresh  charms  combine 
To  lift  our  thoughts  to  worlds  on  high, 
To  brighter  lands  beyond  the  sky. 
She  ever  speaks  of  brighter  joys, 
And  whispers,  as  with  angel  voice, 
Of  happier  homes,  of  fairer  climes, 
Where  love  her  golden  charm  entwines. 
She  tells  of  wisdom  high,  and  peace, 
Of  heavenly  joys  that  ne'er  shall  cease. 
Hope  is  the  love-flower  of  the  soul. ; 
When  heavenly  spheres  their  charms  unroll, 
She  whispers,  softly  whispers,  —  "  Mortal,  see 
The  gems  that  angels  have  prepared  for  thee  ; 
And  look  beyond  the  present  NOW 
To  charms  that  future  years  shall  place  upon  thy  brow." 
In  gloomy  earth-land,  when  dark  sorrows  come, 
Hope  says,  "  Weep  not ;  there  is  a  happier  home 
Where  love  shall  twine  a  garland  fair, 
And  blend  the  glittering  diamonds  rare 
That  these  blest  spheres  above  reveal, 
The  soul  to  calm,  the  wounded  heart  to  heal." 
16 


242  POEMS   OF  A.  B.  WHITING, 

Hope  is  a  blooming  rose  within  the  soul, 

Striving  its  tiny  petals  to  unfold, 

Seeking  to  catch  the  clewdrops  pure  that  come 

From  that  celestial  fount  'neath  wisdom's  dome. 

How  oft,  when  trials  harsh  in  darkness  hover  round, 

And  future  life  looks  dreary,  Hope  has  found 

A  gleam  of  sunlight,  to  inspire  the  mind 

With  trust  that  future  years  may  be  more  kind. 

When  mortals  o'er  earth's  sorrows  linger, 

Hope  points  above  her  jeweled  finger, 

To  invoke  sweet  angels  to  descend, 

And  heaven's  holy  love-words  blend, 

To  lead  their  minds  to  wisdom's  mount, 

To  bathe  in  beauty's  holy  fount. 

God  placed  this  charm  within  the  soul 

To  tell  of  happiness ;  to  toll 

The  death  knell  of  all  human  sorrow, 

To  sing,  "  There  is  a  happier  to-morrow 

For  every  soul,  for  all  mankind ; 

A  home  where  free  shall  be  the  mind.', 

Awake,  then,  child  of  earth-land !  sing 

Of  love  and  truth,  and  hope  shall  bring 

Pure  truth,  and  tell  of  future  joy, 

That  error,  dark,  cannot  destroy. 

Hope  lives  in  every  soul ;  she  can  not  die, 
Though  nature  all  in  ruins  lie. 
She  lives  in  truth's  resplendent  light ; 
She  moves  on  wisdom's  lofty  height ; 
She  dwells  in  every  flower  of  love 
On  earth,  or  in  the  spheres  above  ; 
Her  voice  is  heard  'bove  earthly  strife, 
Bright  prophet  of  a  happier  life. 


WRITTEN  IMPROVISATIONS.  243 

Nourished  by  every  star  that  shines, 

Her  orbit  every  planet  interlines ; 

She  sheds  a  gleam  of  heavenly  light 

O'er  earthly  scenes,  o'er  error's  night. 

When  storms  of  anguish  found  the  earth  shall  roll, 

And  "heaven  together  moveth  like  a  scroll," 

Hope  in  beauty  bright  shall  twine 

A  wreath  of  roses  round  the  soul  divine, 

And  lead  it  calmly  upward  to  that  shore, 

Where  wisdom  reigns  serene  for  evermore. 


FKAGMENTARY  POEMS. 


"THE   GOOD  OLD  DAYS." 

CANTO    I  . 
YE  DECLINE  OF  PERSECUTION. 

In  the  good  old  days  a  man  arose, 

Some  eighteen  centuries  since, 

Who  made  the  Scribes  and  Pharisees  wince 

By  precepts,  words  and  blows. 

That  man,  —  now  worshiped  as  a  God 

By  many  a  mind  of  earth,  — 

Was  scoffed  and  jeered  at  for  his  worth, 

And  chastened  by  the  rod ; 

Despised  by  all  the  wise  and  great 

(In  their  own  estimation), 

The  pride  of  the  Jewish  nation, 

As  history  doth  relate  ; 

Tried  and  condemned  to  cruel  death, 

Because  he  dared  to  teach, 

In  the  synagogue  dared  to  preach, 

In  spite  of  the  Jew's  vile  breath. 

So  they  nailed  him  to  the  cross, 

244 


FRAGMENTARY  POEMS.  245 

Jesus,  the  good  man  and  true, 

Because  he  brought  to  human  view 

The  truth,  "  to  die  was  no  loss." 

He  healed  the  sick,  gave  sight  to  the  blind, 

And  caused  the  deaf  to  hear ; 

His  soul  divested  of  all  fear, 

He  lived  for  all  mankind. 

"  Away  with  him,"  all  Jewry  cried, 

"  He  casteth  out  devils  by  Satan !  " 

Thus,  with  superstition's  baton, 

They  tortured  him  'till  he  died. 

In  that  same  age  his  apostles,  too, 

Were  followed  by  persecution, 

And  bloody  execution, 

The  fate  of  good  men  and  true. 

Years  rolled  away,  and  in  his  name 

(Jesus,  the  holy  in  truth  and  love, 

That  messenger  from  worlds  above) 

Tyrant's  authority  claim 

Under  the  sign  of  the  blood  red  cross ; 

Like  Constantine  the  Great, 

Clothed  with  pomp  and  regal  state, 

All  manner  of  crime  to  gloss. 

So  the  early  fathers  —  a  tyrant  host  — 

Were  bound  in  duty  to  lie  for  the  church, 

Or  by  theft  leave  people  in  the  lurch, 

Or  make  them  give  up  the  ghost. 

So,  in  the  lapse  of  ages  past, 

In  the  good  old  days  gone  by, 

'Twas  deemed  a  duty  for  church  to  lie, 

That  the  glory  of  God  might  last. 


246  POEMS   OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

Some  there  are  at  the  present  time 

Who  are  willing  for  church  to  lie, 

But  the  day  for  such  has  gone  by,  — 

We  chant  their  praise  in  rhyme. 

O,  blessed  Hypocrisy  !  thou  art  dead ! 

Or  dying,  which  is  the  same  ; 

Kings  and  pontiffs  praise  thy  name  ; 

For  thee  their  tears  are  shed. 

Tyranny,  thou  art  an  angel  bright 

That  ruleth  man  for  his  good, 

Controling  the  servile  brood 

By  use  of  kingly  might. 

"  O,  for  parson-power,"  said  Taylor, 

44  Hypocrisy's  praise  to  sing, 

Its  heavenly  anthems  ring." 

(Priests  call  him  a  railer)  ; 

But,  like  him,  we  sing  for  good  old  days 

When  tyranny,  rampant,  ran  wild, 

And  watched,  and  lovingly  smiled 

At  autodafe's  holy  blaze. 

O  Gold,  thou  art  mighty  to-day, 

But  hast  lost  thy  resolution, 

And  power  to  give  absolution, 

Beneath  the  papal  sway ! 

Sad  is  the  thought  that  man  is  so  low 

As  to  think  he  is  progressing, 

That  freedom  is  a  blessing, 

When  contrary  we  know. 

Alas !  mankind  have  lost  respect 

For  all  imperial  station, 

And  by  self-exaltation 

Both  king  and  priest  neglect. 


FRAGMENTARY  POEMS.  247 

O,  sinful  Man  !  when  will  ye  learn 

That  bondage  is  a  blessing, 

Your  every  wrong  redressing, 

And  to  your  chief's  return. 

Thrice  holy  is  mental  bondage, 

And  every  credal  chain, 

To  bind  you  again  and  again, 

Is  a  godsend  in  this  age. 

O,  sad  it  is  for  us  to  know 

The  world  is  retrograding ; 

'Tis  no  use  the  truth  evading 

For  the  church  says  it  is  so. 

Of  what  avail  are  turrets  high, 

Lofty  cathedral,  domes  and  walls, 

If  the  creed  no  more  inthralls 

Each  soul  a  votary. 

What  though  some  still  bow  the  knee, 

And  kiss  the  chains  that  bind  them, 

Wherever  they  can  find  them, 

If  many  minds  are  free  ? 

O,  sad  indeed  is  the  story,  — 

But  truth  we  must  always  tell,  — 

Belief  is  losing  its  spell, 

Its  lovely  wand  so  gory; 

For  the  wiles  of  wicked,  sinning  man 

Have  filled  earth  with  confusion, 

And  many  a  sad  delusion  ; 

For  knowledge  leads  the  van 

Of  all  mankind,  advancing 

Their  mission  to  fulfill, 

In  spite  of  kingly  will, 

Their  happiness  enhancing." 


248  POEMS   OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

The  good  old  times  have  passed  away, 
When  kings  and  popes,  with  iron  hand, 
Ruled  the  minds  of  every  land, 
With  naught  their  power  to  stay ; 
When  Inquisition's  rack  and  fire, 
Torturing  rope  and  breaking  wheel, 
And  laws  that  made  the  people  feel 
The  strength  of  priestly  ire. 
No  more  are  absolutions  sold 
To  license  every  bloody  crime, 
And  make  men  happy  for  all  time, 
By  means  of  paltry  gold.* 

CANTO    II. 
YE  TERRIBLE   STRIDES   OF   SCIENCE. 

In  good  old  times  the  earth  was  flat ; 

Around  it  moved  sun,  moon,  and  star, 

And  every  planet  near  and  far, 

By  power  of  God's  fiat. 

When  Galileo,  wise  in  nature's  lore, 

Asserted  the  world  turned  round, 

In  a  dungeon  dark  a  home  he  found, 

Where  wise  men  had  been  before. 

The  Inquisition  was  brought  to  bear 

Upon  this  man  of  science  then  ; 

Prelates,  bishops,  —  all  holy  men,  — 

Applied  the  torture  there, 

To  make  him  abjure  the  things  he  knew ; 

*  See  **  De  Coemenin's  History  of  the  Popes  "  for  the  tariff  of  prices 
for  the  absolution  of  all  crimes,  established  by  Pope  John  XXII. 


FRAGMENTARY  POEMS.  249 

The  telescopic  power  so  grand, 
Bright  worlds  to  read  in  starry  land, 
Reveal  them  to  men's  view. 
At  length,  when  brought  before  the  pope, 
Arrayed  in  costly  robes  and  power, 
Vicegerent  of  the  earthly  hour, 
Sat  Urban,  God's  own  will  to  quote. 
44  Look  through  my  telescope,  O,  man, 
Sitting  in  solemn  judgment  here," 
Said  the  wise  man,  loud  and  clear, 
"  And  bring  it  to  your  ken." 
"  What  care  I  though  it  is  provable  ; 
Am  I  not  Pontiff,  infallible,  great?  " 
Said  Urban,  in  his  regal  state,  — 

"  I  SAY  EARTH  IS  IMMOVABLE." 

But  the  world  moved  on  and  moveth  still, 
As  Galileo  said  it  would  do ; 
The  truth  is  now  received  as  true, 
Despite  Pope  Urban's  will. 

In  former  times  'twas  thought  by  all 

That  in  six  days  God  made  the  world ; 

Creation's  banner  then  unfurled 

O'er  all  things,  great  and  small; 

But  earth's  own  rocky  records  show 

That  there's  a  slight  mistake, 

And  God  could  not  his  own  law  break,  — 

All  must  have  time  to  grow. 

In  good  old  times  it  was  a  sin 

For  Science  to  assert  her  claim 

In  any  guise,  oy  any  name,/ 

Or  in  any  form  begin ; 

For  many  there  were  in  days  gone  by,  — 


250  POEMS   OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

And  some  in  the  present  age  I  ween, 
As  their  works  are  often  plainly  seen, 
Hold  the  same  thought  on  the  sly,  — 
That  carnal  reason  must  he  down 
Before  the  shrine  of  faith,  belief, 
And  never  dare  to  give  relief 
When  popes  and  prelates  frown. 
'•  Learning  is  useless,"  said  Pope  Paul, 
'•  And  science  opposed  to  religion/' 
"  Sacred  is  each  church  tradition,  — 
Then  let  it  conquer  all." 

Holy  wars  were  rife  in  the  good  old  days 
When  the  many  were  slaves  to  the  few, 
And  men  their  fellow-mortals  slew , 
All  for  their  Maker's  praise. 
The  Saracen  fought  the  Christian  brave, 
And  the  Christian  slew  the  Turk ; 
Blood  and  carnage  thus  set  to  work, 
Made  many  a  martyr's  grave. 
Then  the  lance  and  the  shining  blade 
Settled  the  strife  and  disputes  of  man  ; 
Dread  warfare  was  the  only  plan 
By  which  laws  were  broke  or  made. 
One  thing  is  certain  the  wide  world  o'er, 
If  ever  a  truth  was  spoken, 
Or  ever  a  human  skull  broken, 
Holy  wars  are  a  curse  and  bore. 

Geology  has  proved  to  man 
That  earth  is  very  aged, 
And  we  are  all  enraged, 
At  its  stupendous  plan. 


FRAGMENTARY  POEMS  251 

The  Bible  record  is  o'erthrown, 

If  this  new  science  is  correct ; 

'Twill  all  mythologies  affect, 

Man  has  so  knowing  grown. 

If  years  on  millions  earth  has  stood, 

Of  what  avail  the  Genesis  account 

Of  ark  on  Ararat's  tall  mount, 

In  safety  from  the  flood  ? 

The  earth  was  all  in  six  days  made 

Says  Scripture  (that  is  very  plain). 

'Tis  true  or  false,  we  here  maintain, 

In  language  plain  arrayed. 

Science,  thou  name  for  infidelity  ! 

Geology,  Astronomy, 

And  all  such  like  economy, 

Is  blackest  heresy. 

O,  'tis  lamentable  to  see 

How  these  errors  are  gaining  ground  ; 

In  every  school-house  they  are  found, 

Taught  openly  and  free. 

'Tis  strange  that  even  pious  souls 

Fail  to  see  the  errors  dark, 

Shown  by  the  electric  spark 

That  Science's  chart  unrolls  ; 

But  such  is  their  consistency, 

That  earth  may  he  both  round  and  flat, 

Made  in  six  days  by  God's  fiat, 

Millions  in  reality. 

"  Six  days  doth  mean  long  ages  vast, 

The  way  we  mortals  measure  time  ; 

Thus  Science  doth  with  Bible  chime, 

The  present  with  the  past." 

O,  depth  of  folly,  hight  of  crime  ! 


252  POEMS   OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

Thus  to  distrust  the  scriptures  old, 

Written  by  God's  own  ringer  bold, 

For  every  age  and  clime. 

The  world  is  going  to  ruin,  sure, 

For  science  opposes  religion  ; 

In  every  land  and  region 

Its  teachings  firm  endure. 

For  years  and  years  the  world  believed 

All  people  came  from  one  first  pair ; 

Such  is  the  Bible  record  fair, 

That  ought  to  be  received. 

But  some  now  doubt  this  simple  truth,  - 

It  as  a  falsehood  dare  to  brand, 

Saying,  that  "  every  age  and  land 

Produces  man  and  youth ; 

And  beast  and  bird,  and  creeping  thing, 

All  come  forth  by  nature's  laws  ; 

By  power  of  one  Eternal  Cause 

Each  flower  and  tree  doth  spring  ; 

The  white  man  and  the  Indian  red, 

The  black  man  and  the  yellow,  — 

And  every  other  fellow, — 

Each  in  his  place  is  bred; 

Instead  of  the  races  being  one, 

Of  every  stripe  and  nation, 

Throughout  the  wide  creation, 

Beneath  the  shining  sun, 

They  are  as  diverse  as  the  birds 

Or  quadrupeds  that  walk  the  earth, 

And  every  climate  gives  them  birth 

By  law,  not  spoken  words." 

"  Don't  scripture  say  all  are  one  blood  ? 


FRAGMENTARY  POEMS.  253 

Then  stop  these  ethnologies, 

And  other  idle  heresies ! 

The  Bible  long  hath  stood. 

Should  ye  not  believe  its  words  and  maxims, 

That  plainly  are  expressed, 

By  the  Holy  Spirit  blessed,  — 

Its  God-appointed  axioms  ? 

If  it  tell  you  black  is  white, 

Believe  it  or  be  damned ; 

Consent  thus  to  be  crammed, 

Or  go  to  eternal  night." 


YE    MILL,   AND   YE  WHEELS. 

My  lay  is  a  lay  of  a  mill ; 
A  mill  whose  grim  old  wheels  went  round, 
And  round,  with  a  terrible  din,  — 
Din  that  was  never  a  moment  still ; 
Still  gloomy  and  dull  was  the  sound, 
Sound  that  took  the  good  people  in. 
This  dull  old  mill  was  built  of  stone, 
Stone  and  mortar  and  brick,  — 
Brick,  and  wood,  and  fresco  work,  — 
Work  that  was  well  and  strongly  done, 
Done  in  a  manner  stout  and  thick,  — 
Thick  with  craft,  and  skill  did  lurk,  — 
Lurk  around  the  old  building  there. 
There  were  charms  of  life  without, 
Without  were  trees  and  blooming  flowers ; 
Flowers  that  grew  by  walks  so  bare,  — 
(Bare  save  when  the  millers  were  out  — 


254  POEMS   OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

Out  in  the  evening's  silent  hours.) 
This  mill  had  many  a  wheel,  — 
Wheel  of  peculiar  make, 
Makes  noises  more  wonderful  still. 
Still  every  cog  seems  to  feel,  — 
Feel  only  for  its  owner's  sake. 
Sakes  alive  I  how  it  does  his  will. 
These  wheels  are  mysterious,  too, 
To  many  a  listener's  mind ; 
Mind,  each  tells  a  tale  of  its  own, 
Own  language.     It  speaketh  to  you  ; 
You  may  curiosities  find,  — 
Find  what  each  wheel  has  seen. 
These  wheels  are  of  divers  sizes,  — 
Sizes  both  large  and  very  small ; 
Small  ones  feel  large  as  the  largest, 
Largest  as  large  as  the  prizes,  — 
>  Prizes  that,  given  to  all, 
All  try  to  obtain  the  choicest. 
This  mill  had  a  lofty  dome,  — 
Dome  that  was  roofed  with  slate,  — 
Slate  without  and  wood  within ; 
Within,  the  mill  was  fair  to  some  ; 
Some  loved  its  massive  dome  so  great,  — 
Great  dome  to  take  the  people  in  ; 
Some  loved  its  big  wheels'  solemn  song .  — 
Song  in  French,  Italian,  and  Greek, 
Greek  and  Latin,  Spanish  and  Dutch, 
Dutch  and  Hebrew,  loud  and  long. 
Long  each  wheel  could  sing  or  speak ; 
Speak,  for  each  wheel  could  chatter  much ; 
For  know  they  all  had  tongues,  — 
Tongues,  and  hands,  and  feet ; 


FRAGMENTARY  POEMS.  255 

Feats  of  mind  in  their  estimation,  — 
Estimation,  a  song  they  always  sung  ; 
Sung  of  themselves:  each  day  did  repeat  — 
Repeat  their  selfish  exultation. 
Thus  for  a  hundred  years  or  so, 
So  had  the  dull  old  wheels  moved  on ; 
Moved  on,  except,  when  one  wore  out, 
Out  it  was  thrust,  and  another  to  go,  — 
Go  in  its  place,  —  was  seized  upon,  — 
Upon  the  grist  its  work  to  bestow. 
Many  a  miller  had  grown  gray  — 
Gray  in  the  battle  of  life,  while  young, 
Young  were  the  apprentices  shy, 
Shy  or  bold,  morose  or  gay. 
Gay  never,  were  the  wheels  so  glum,  — 
Glum  for  ever,  forever  and  aye. 


FROM  HOPE  TO  KNOWLEDGE. 

Hope  is  the  guiding  star, 

Onward,  upward  ever 

On  earth  or  in  the  worlds  afar, 

She  will  leave  thee  never. 

In  thy  highest  aspiration, 

Every  thought  shall  feel  its  power  ; 

Reaching  in  its  exaltation, 

Each  pure  drop  of  wisdom's  shower ; 

'Till  thy  soul  shall  feel  and  see, 

That,  from  hope  to  knowledge  free, 

A  fair  path  is  shown  to  thee. 


256  POEMS   OF  A.   B.    WHITING. 


ALBUM  LINES. 

I'd  rather  be  a  written  page, 
To  cast  a  sunbeam  on  life's  stage, 
Than  be  a  monarch  on  his  throne, 
Who  ruled  by  power  and  fear  alone. 
I'd  rather  be  a  love  thought  free, 
Than  rule  the  land  or  rule  the  sea 
By  man  applauded. 

May  truth  alone  shine  on  each  leaf, 
Free  from  sorrow,  doubt,  and  grief ; 
May  wisdom  guide  each  hand  to  write, 
May  love  all  hearts  in  joy  unite, 
To  trace  within  this  volume  fair, 
Words  of  truth  in  garlands  rare 
Of  friendship's  roses. 


'Tis  but  a  thought  I  give  to  thee ; 

One  gem  from  friendship's  holy  shrine,  — 

A  thought  that  tells  of  beauty  free 

Dwelling  in  worlds  of  joy  divine. 

Each  glowing  thought  that  plays  around  thee 

Lifts  thy  soul  to  regions  bright ; 

It  will  ever  help  to  lead  thee 

Along  the  way  to  truth's  blest  hight. 


FRAGMENTART  POEMS.  257 


THE  FEAST  OF  BELSHAZZAR. 


FKAGMENT  OF  A  POEM  IMPROVISED  AT  THE  MELODEON,  BOSTON, 
DECEMBER  6,  1857. 

[These  lines  were  printed  at  the  time  in  the  "  Banner  of  Light," 
which  said  concerning  them,  "  They  were  furnished  us  by  a  gentle- 
man who  was  appointed  on  the  committee  to  select  the  subject  for  a 
poem,  and  who  suggested  that  on  which  it  was  given.  They  were 
written  from  memory  by  the  gentleman  who  was  an  utter  skeptic ;  and 
as  he  is  somewhat  noted  for  his  retentive  memory,  we  have  no  doubt 
that  they  are  correct."] 


The  pompous  King  at  his  table  sat, 
With  nobles  and  courtiers  around ; 
He  quaffed  the  rich  wine,  and  with  impious  hand, 
He  swore  that  his  kingdom  for  ever  should  stand. 
The  song  went  round,  the  unseemly  jest, 
The  scoffing  words,  and  blasphemous  breath  ; 
The  haughty  king,  with  his  brazen  arms, 
Ruled  o'er  the  fair  city  of  palms. 
But,  lo  !  upon  yon  distant  wall 
Appeared  the  spirit  hand. 
The  trembling  King,  with  guilty  fear, 
Looked  o'er  the  affrighted  band. 
But,  see !  the  hand  in  words  of  light 
Glanced  glittering  o'er  their  eyes ; 
Dread  silence,  horror,  awful  fright, 
As  moving  on  it  flies. 
17 


258  POEMS  OF  A.  B.  WHITING. 

Mene,  Mene  was  writ  on  the  wall, 
And  Tekel,  Upharsin,  appeared  to  them  all. 
They  sent  for  the  Prophet,  the  King  looked  around, 
"  Thou'rt  weighed   in   the  balance,  and  wanting   art 
found." 


[The  entire  poem  comprised  about  one  hundred  lines.] 


UNPUBLISHED   SONGS. 


THE  BANNER  OF  PEACE. 

War,  with  its  dark  and  bloody  hand, 
For  three  long  years  has  ruled  the  land, 
And  the  fourth  is  on  the  wane, 
Marching  in  the  bloody  train. 
And  our  country,  once  so  glorious, 
Over  every  foe  victorious, 
Now  lies  bleeding,  torn  and  broken, 
By  the  sword's  unhallowed  token. 

Then  raise  the  snow-white  banner, 
The  beautiful  flag  of  peace  ; 
And  in  the  name  of  human  rights, 
Declare  that  wars  shall  cease. 

Millions  of  men  came  forth  at  call, 
Bravely  resolved  to  rule  or  fall 
'Mid  the  war-king's  fiery  train, 
Dazzled  by  his  lurid  chain. 
44  Union  and  Freedom  "  was  the  cry,  — 
44  We  will  conquer  now  or  die  !  " 

259 


260  POEMS    OF  A.   B.    WHITING. 

Thus  full  many  a  brave  one  fell, 
Without  shrive,  or  shroud,  or  bell. 

Then  raise  the  snow-white  banner,  &c. 

Now  the  gauzy  veil  is  lifted, 
Now  the  ship  of  state  has  drifted 
On  the  rock  of  "  lust  of  power," 
While  the  clouds  of  terror  lower ; 
Now  the  war-king,  red  with  gore, 
Calls  "  five  hundred  thousand  more  !  " 
While  the  orphan's  feeble  wail 
Echoes  in  each  passing  gale. 

Then  raise  the  snow-white  banner,  &c. 

Up,  then  !   Arise,  ye  freemen  brave, 
And  in  your  might  your  country  save  ; 
Hurl  the  usurper  from  his  throne  ; 
Cease  orphan's  sigh  and  widow's  moan. 
Conciliation's  mystic  charm 
Must  be  the  nation's  healing  balm  ; 
"  Union  and  Peace  "  our  motto  be  ; 
44  Freedom  from  all  tyrann}^." 

Then  raise  the  snow-white  banner, 
The  beautiful  flag  of  peace ; 
And  in  the  name  of  human  rights, 
Declare  that  wars  shall  cease. 


UNPUBLISHED   SONGS.  261 


STRIKE  BOLDLY,  AND   FEAR  NOT. 

Strike  boldly,  and  fear  not ; 
Angels  round  thee  hover  ; 
Through  the  lone  path  of  life 
Their  footprints  we  discover. 
They  ever  watch  and  guide, 
Fondly  they  caress  us, 
Still  gently  by  our  side 
Striving  aye  to  bless  us. 

What  care  I  for  power, 
Earthly  wealth  or  grandeur, 
Creatures  of  an  hour, 
Ambition  and  splendor. 
Only  let  good  spirits  bright 
Smiling  o'er  my  pathway, 
Shining  in  spotless  white, 
Near  me  for  ever  stay. 

Roll  on,  dark  wave  of  life  ; 

Unheeded  commotion ; 

On  with  your  dashing  strife, 

Fate-troubled  ocean ! 

For  with  the  angels  true, 

Backward  turning  never, 

New  thoughts  e'er  come  to  view, 

Beauteous  forever. 

Strike  boldly,  child  of  earth ! 
For  wisdom  surrounds  thee  ; 


262  POEMS   OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

With  its  fair  gems  of  worth 
In  love-ties  hath  bound  thee  ; 
The  gloom  of  error  dark 
Is  gone  from  before  thee, 
Touched  by  the  hallowed  spark 
Of  angel  truth  o'er  thee. 


COME,   BRIGHT  MENONA. 

Come  when  the  morning  sun  is  shining, 
Come  when  the  rays  of  light  combining, 

Blend  their  glories  rare  ; 
Come  when  the  lark  is  gayly  singing, 
Come  when  the  bells  of  morn  are  ringing, 

With  their  cadence  pure. 

Come  with  thy  sweet  and  gentle  voice, 
It  doth  make  my  soul  rejoice 
In  its  melody. 

Come  when  the  silvery  moon  is  gleaming 
With  the  stars  of  night  that,  beaming, 

Breathe  hope's  rhapsody  ; 
Come  when  the  evening  lamps  are  lighted, 
And  our  hearts  in  love  united 

Beat  in  harmony. 

Come  with  thy  sweet  and  gentle  voice 
It  doth  make  my  soul  rejoice 
In  its  melody. 


UNPUBLISHED  SONGS.  263 

O  come,  Menona,  gem  of  duty, 
Come  in  thy  splendor,  peerless  beauty, 

With  thy  notes  of  love  ; 
Join  with  the  word  my  soul  is  speaking ; 
Bow  to  the  fate  thy  heart  is  seeking ; 

Onward  let  us  rove. 

Come  with  thy  sweet  and  gentle  voice, 
It  doth  make  my  soul  rejoice 
In  its  melody. 


WELCOME  TO   PEACE. 

WRITTEN   AFTER   THE    CLOSE   OF   THE    CIVIL   WAR. 

The  clouds  of  war  have  passed  away. 

The  angel  of  peace  appears  ! 
All  hail,  the  dawning  of  the  day ; 

Fill  the  air  with  gladsome  cheers  ; 
Black  were  the  clouds  and  streaked  with  fire, 

As  they  rolled  athwart  the  sky, 
While  bloody  waves  of  anguish  dire 

Flowed  drearily,  sadly  by. 

Homes  of  the  North  and  the  South  land 
Have  felt  the  war-king's  power  ; 

Tearful  eyes  have  seen  the  death  wand, 
The  bullet's  fatal  shower. 

We've  heard  the  wail  of  .loved  ones, 
Borne  on  the  midnight  air  ; 


264  POEMS  OF  A.    B.    WHITING. 

The  dying,  wounded,  and  lost  ones, 
Far  from  home  and  friendly  care. 

Now  the  deadly  strife  is  ended 

Let  the  past  forgotten  be, 
And  our  country,  reconstructed, 

As  of  yore,  united,  free. 
By  the  memory  of  each  martyr, 

Let  us  skill  and  mercy  show  ; 
Let  us  serve  our  Magna  Charta 

Scorn  to  strike  a  fallen  foe. 


v 


PUBLISHED   SONGS. 


Group  L  Tte@©  H@aet  Offerings. 

i 

LENA  DE  L'ORME. 

Yes,  thou  art  gone  in  the  pride  of  thy  youth, 

The  fairest  of  all  the  valley  ; 
Gone  in  the  light  of  thy  beauty  and  truth, 

Gone  where  the  night  winds  rally. 

Yes,  thou  art  gone, 
Pride  of  my  heart, 
Beautiful  Lena  de  L'Orme  ; 
For  thee  teardrops  freely  start, 
For  thou  to  the  angels  art  gone. 

The  ivy  grows  dark  o'er  the  grassy  mound, 

The  brook  goes  murmuring  by, 
The  night  bird  shrieks  with  its  dreariest  sound 

O'er  the  spot  where  thy  form  doth  lie. 

The  star  of  thy  life  went  down  in  its  youth, 
And  thy  throbbing  heart  lieth  still, 

But  thy  spirit  liveth  in  love  and  truth 
Beyond  death's  murmuring  rill. 

265 


266  POEMS   OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

Hark  !  there  comes  a  voice  from  out  of  the  skies ; 

'Tis  the  voice  of  my  angel  love  ; 
It  tells  of  a  spirit  hovering  nigh, 

Revealing  its  joy  from  above. 

The  love  of  the  soul  ends  not  with  death, 

But  liveth  forever  on  high ; 
Thus  Lena  speaks  in  the  zephyr's  breath, 

In  the  night  wind's  sweetest  sigh. 


BY  THE  SIDE  OF  THE  MURMURING  STREAM. 

O,  the  happy,  happy  days  of  my  childhood, 
By  the  side  of  the  murmuring  stream, 

Where  I  culled  the  sweet  flowers  of  the  wildwood, 
By  the  light  of  the  first  morning  beam. 

But  those  pleasures  are  fled  forever 
In  the  passing  of  life's  fitful  gleam, 

And  I'll  gaze  on  those  beauties  never, 
By  the  side  of  the  murmuring  stream. 

The  little  white  cottage,  near  the  haunted  rock, 

That  covered  my  forefathers  too  ; 
And  the  willow  rent  by  the  lightning's  shock, 

By  the  side  of  the  waters  so  blue. 

I  remember  the  place  in  the  old  churchyard 
Where  I  wandered  in  days  of  yore, 

There  sleeps  my  love  in  the  earth  hard, 
Yet  in  fancy  I  see  her  once  more. 


PUBLISHED   SONGS.  267 

O,  the  many,  many  joys  of  my  youth's  days 

Have  fled  like  a  weird  fairy  dream ; 
But  I'll  treasure  them  still  in  my  heart  lays, 

While  I  sing  of  the  murmuring  stream. 


TOUCH  THE  LUTE   GENTLY. 

0,  touch  the  lute  gently,  love, 
Gently,  love,  gayly, 
And  wreathe  a  sweet  garland  of  song ; 
Dulcet  notes  e'er  they  prove. 
Truly  Atheli, 
Thy  spirit  to  mine  doth  belong. 

Then  touch  the  lute  gently,  love,  gently, 
And  wreathe  a  sweet  garland  of  song, 

O,  touch  the  lute  gently,  love,  gently, 
And  wreathe  a  sweet  garland  of  song. 

Roaming  now  in  other  lands, 
Sadly  and  lonely, 
Longing  for  joys  that  are  fled ; 
Sighing  now  for  golden  bands, 
Bound  to  thee  only, 
Weeping  for  hopes  that  are  dead. 

O,  sing  again  those  songs  of  yore, 

Ever  soul-thrilling, 
They  come  to  my  sad,  lonely  mind ; 
Heavenly  tones  o'er  and  o'er, 

Murmuring  and  trilling, 
They  lead  me  life's  treasure  to  find. 


268  POEMS   OF  A.  B.  WHITING. 

Far  o'er  the  sad  and  lonely  wave, 
Echo  shall  reach  me, 
With  its  sweet  murmuring  voice  ; 
Joys  of  life  thy  presence  gave, 
Purely  will  teach  me, 
And  bid  my  sad  soul  rejoice. 

O,  touch  the  lute,  and  o'er  the  sea, 
In  sweet  communion, 
In  song  then  united  we'll  dwell ; 
Heart  with  heart  then  shall  be 
In  blessed  union : 
Then  we'll  know  all  is  well. 


(l£OTg>  It-   Sparkling  Sms. 

ADIEU,    LEANORE ! 

Adieu,  adieu,  Leanore! 

Forever  fare  thee  well ; 
Weep  not,  for  I  adore 

The  charms  that  with  thee  dwell. 
When  I  am  passed  away 

To  that  immortal  shore, 
My  light  song  still  will  stay, 

And  whisper,  I  adore. 

Adieu,  adieu,  Leanore ; 

Forever  fare  thee  well, 
Till  on  the  immortal  shore, 

We  shall  together  dwell, 


PUBLISHED   SONGS.  269 

Adieu,  adieu,  Leanore ! 

'Tis  broke,  the  golden  spell ; 
Earthborne  am  I  no  more,  — 

To  thee  a  sad  farewell. 
When  roses  round  thee  bloom, 

And  lilies  o'er  thee  twine, 
From  lands  beyond  the  tomb 

My  love  shall  purely  shine. 


LEOLINE. 

Leoline,  though  thou  art  far  from  me, 
Yet  my  spirit  e'er  doth  turn  to  thee  ; 
In  my  memory  oft  thy  smile 
Will  the  weary  hours  beguile  ; 
I  am  sad  and  lonely  waiting 
For  thy  presence,  soul-elating, 
Longing  still  to  see  my  fairy, 
Blithesome  one,  so  light  and  airy. 

Leoline,  Leoline,  Leoline, 
Though  thou  art  far  away, 
Still  I  hear  thee  say, 
I  am  thine  for  aye. 

Leoline,  the  dew  is  on  the  lea, 
The  moon  shines  on  the  heaving  sea, 
The  rolling  waves  are  dancing  light, 
To  echo  back  my  song  to-night ; 
Then  waft  me  from  thy  lovely  clime, 
Some  silvery  tone,  some  music  chime, 
To  help  me  wait  the  distant  hour, 
When  I  may  claim  my  wild  wood  flower. 


270  POEMS   OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 


"YOU    WELL   KNOW   MY   BELOVED." 

Good  night,  good  night,  my  well-beloved, 

May  bright  angels  guard  you  in  your  dreams ; 
You  well  know,  you  well  know,  my  beloved, 
That  my  love  for  you  for  ever  fondly  gleams. 
You  well  know,  you  well  know, 
My  beloved,  you  well  know 
That  my  heart  beats  ever  fond  and  true, 
Ever  beaming,  ever  gleaming  is  my  lovelight, 
As  beams  the  star  from  out  yon  sky's  fair  blue. 

Good  night,  good  night,  may  angels  keep  you, 
From  every  trial  dark  of  earthly  life  ; 

In  the  future,  peerless  beauty,  may  I  meet  you, 
Free  from  all  sorrow,  care,  and  warring  strife. 


LAND  OF  THE  SO-CALLED  DEAD. 

Sweet  land  of  the  spirit,  I'm  pining  for  thee, 
O,  beautiful  land,  where  the  bright  spirits  be, 
Where  the  dearly  loved  have  fled,  — 
That  beauteous  land, 
That  glorious  land, 
The  land  of  the  so-called  dead. 

In  my  dreams  thou  art  near, 
In  my  dreams  thou  art  near. 

The  loved  of  past  j^ears  gladly  greet  me  there, 
Beyond  error's  gloom  and  all  sorrowing  care  ; 


PUBLISHED   SONGS.  271 

To  their  love-encircled  shore. 

To  that  magical  land, 

That  mystical  land, 
The  home  of  the  gone  before. 

In  my  dreams  ever  near, 

In  my  dreams  ever  near. 

And  the  boatman  pale  o'er  the  river  of  death, 
In  a  sweet  interlude  of  murmuring  breath, 
Will  come  with  his  light  canoe 
To  bear  me  to  rest. 
In  that  mansion  blest, 
Where  dwell  the  holy  and  true. 
In  my  dreams  ever  near, 
In  my  dreams  ever  near. 

Yes,  I  know  I  shall  see  thee  in  time,  sweet  land, 
And  join  with  the  seraph  throng,  hand  in  hand, 
When  the  journey  on  earth  is  o'er ; 
For  the  radiant  beams 
Of  the  light  that  gleams, 
Shine  bright  from  the  further  shore. 
Yes,  in  life  ever  near ; 
Yes,  in  life  ever  near. 


MAID   OF  GLEXORE. 

Maid  of  Glenore,  awake  from  thy  dreaming, 

List  to  my  soft-sounding  lay  ; 
While  bright  stars  above  are  brilliantly  beaming 

Hearken  to  what  I  would  say. 


272  POEMS   OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 


The  south  wind  softly  is  blowing, 
The  air  with  fragrance  is  glowing. 
Come  forth  in  thy  light, 
Sweet  beam  of  the  night, 
While  flowers  thy  pathway  are  strewing. 
Maid  of  Glenore, 
Maid  of  Glenore, 
Beautiful  art  thou,  Maid  of  Glenore  ! 

Maid  of  Glenore,  the  stars  will  grow  dim 

In  sight  of  thy  flashing  eye  ; 
I  implore  thee  heed  the  love-song  of  him 
Who  breathes  every  word  with  a  sigh  : 
The  night-bird  ceases  its  singing 
To  list  to  thy  laugh's  sweet  ringing  ; 
Come  forth  in  thy  light. 
Sweet  beam  of  the  night, 
While  moonbeams  their  pure  light  are  flinging. 
Maid  of  Glenore, 
Maid  of  Glenore, 
Beautiful  art  thou,  Maid  of  Glenore. 

Maid  of  Glenore,  a  love-chord  is  twining 

Around  thy  spirit  and  mine  ; 
Stars  from  above  in  beauty  are  shining 
O'er  kindred  souls,  mine  and  thine  ; 
Fond  looks  are  cast  on  the  comely, 
Blest,  holy  beam  that  art  lonely, 
One  day  robed  in  white, 
Sweet  star  of  delight, 
There  thou  wilt  shine  on  me  only. 
Maid  of  Glenore, 
Maid  of  Glenore, 
Beautiful  art  thou,  Maid  of  Glenore. 


PUBLISHED   SONGS.  273 

feOTg  IiiB  Wl®>wmu  from  ih®  West. 

0,   HEAR  MY  PARTING  SIGH. 

O,  heae  my  parting  sigh  ; 

O,  heed  my  parting  prayer ; 
Death's  angel  hovers  nigh ; 

Soon  I'll  be  free  from  care. 
Death  cometh  with  relief, 

To  lift  the  soul  above, 
To  free  the  mind  from  grief,  — 

A  messenger  of  love. 

O,  hear  my  parting  sigh, 

And  watch  my  failing  sight 
'Tis  nothing  now  to  die, 

The  pathway  all  is  light. 
Death  comes  an  angel  dark 

Only  to  those  who  mourn ; 
Still  lives  the  immortal  spark, 

By  angels  upward  borne. 

O,  hear  my  parting  sigh, 

O,  see  that  holy  throng, 
That  comes  from  worlds  on  high, 

To  join  my  parting  song. 
Death,  with  his  ringer  fair, 

Doth  point  to  mansions  blest ; 
Vanquished  is  lone  despair, 

That  gave  the  mind  unrest. 
18 


274  POEMS    OF  A.   B.  WHITING. 


MEDORA. 

Medoba  sleeps  'neath  the  cold,  cold  stont, 
And  the  wind  harp  is  breathing 

Its  sad,  sad  moan. 
The  ivy  is  creeping  o'er  her  tomb, 
And  the  pine  trees  wave  darkly, 

In  chilling  gloom. 

They  parted  her  golden  ringlets  light, 
O'er  her  marble-like  forehead, 

So  cold  and  white  ; 
They  laid  her  to  rest  at  close  of  day, 
In  the  lone  murmuring  shades, 

Where  night-winds  piay. 

She's  gone  afar  from  dull  sorrow's  care, 
From  the  false  hearts  that  led  her 

With  fitful  glare. 
No  phantoms  pale  of  poverty's  home 
To  her  moss-covered  mansion 

Ever  can  come. 

Medora  lives,  a  bright  angel  now, 
And  heaven's  purest  laurels 

Deck  her  fair  brow  ; 
Gladly  she  sings,  with  a  holy  band, 
Happy  songs  of  rejoicing, 

In  spirit  land. 


PUBLISHED  SONGS.  275 


O,  TELL  ME  NOT   OF   FIELDS   OF  GLORY. 

O,  tell  me  not  of  fields  of  glory, 

Where  foemen  meet,  and  fight,  and  fall. 
Alas  !  the  splendor  of  the  story 

Is  draped  with  deep  funereal  pall ; 
For  vivid  then  arise  before  us 

The  horrors  of  the  battle  plain, 
And  victory's  loud,  exulting  chorus 

Sinks  burdened  by  the  shrieks  of  pain. 

They  say  that  fame,  with  trump  immortal, 

Of  those  who  bravely  fought  shall  tell ; 
Within  her  temple's  loftiest  portal 

Shall  twine  the  wreath  for  those  who  fell. 
But  O,  a  manly  form  reposes 

Full  lowly  on  the  bloody  plain, 
And  death's  dark  evening  shadow  closes 

O'er  eyes  that  ne'er  shall  wake  again. 

Then  tell  me  not  that  glory  liveth  ; 

It  ne'er  restores  the  fallen  brave  ; 
Nor  is  there  aught  that  glory  giveth, 

Can  light  the  darkness  of  the  grave. 
For  what  can  fame  avail  the  lonely, 

Who  weep  above  a  loved  one  slain  ? 
It  maddens  grief  to  anguish  only  ; 

The  sad  heart  knows  'tis  all  in  vain. 

But  there  are  angels  gently  hovering 

Around  us,  in  the  hour  of  need  ; 
Their  mission  to  console  the  suffering, 

To  heal  the  hearts  that  inly  bleed. 


276  POEMS  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

They  tell  us,  too,  of  fields  of  glory, 
Beyond  the  realms  of  death's  domain  ; 

Nor  woe,  nor  warfare  dim  the  story  ; 
There  joy  and  peace  forever  reign. 


THE   WIND   IS    IN    THE    CHESTNUT   BOUGH. 

The  wind  is  in  the  chestnut  bough, 

The  wind  is  in  the  pine  ; 
Come  nearer,  nearer  to  me  now, 

Dear  spirit  friend  of  mine  ; 
Come  nearer,  nearer  to  me  now, 

Dear  spirit  friend  of  mine. 
Howl  on,  ye  surging  blasts,  howl  on ! 

Nor  heed  the  prayers  of  mortal  men, 
If  thou,  bright  spirit,  will  but  breathe 

Thy  thoughts  to  mortal  ken. 

The  wind  goes  moaning  o'er  the  deep, 

And  whistles  in  each  sail, 
It  lulls  the  mariner  to  sleep, 

Or  wakes  him  to  the  gale ; 

The  wind  is  restless  in  his  wrath  ; 

He  rushes  o'er  the  plain  ; 
And  on  the  gloomy  desert  path 

His  echo  moans  again. 

Roll  on,  ye  wrathful,  restless  blast, 

Nor  heed  earth's  fleeting  joy  ; 
The  day  on  earth  will  soon  be  past  ; 

'Tis  but  a  passing  toy. 


PUBLISHED  SONGS.  277 


PRIDE  OF  ELSINORE. 

Sweet  pride  of  Elsinore,  for  thee 

Love's  purest  incense  e'er  shall  rise, 
For  thou  art  all  the  world  to  me, 

Blithe  maiden  that  I  prize. 
Another  face  may  be  more  fair, 

Another  form  more  light, 
But  thou  dost  blend  the  virtues  rare,  — 

More  precious  in  my  sight. 

Fair  maid  of  Elsinore,  O  be 

My  own  bright  shining  star  to  guide, 
For  with  my  song's  pure  melody 

I'd  woo  thee  for  my  bride. 
Another  eye,  with  flashing  gleam, 

May  thrill  the  changing  heart, 
But  love  that  from  the  soul  doth  beam, 

Can  play  a  nobler  part. 

Lone  pride  of  Elsinore,  so  fair, 

A  mind  like  mine  you  ne'er  may  view, 
Then  listen  while  I  here  declare 

My  vows  of  friendship  true. 
Another  mind  may  only  love 

With  earth's  wild  flickering  glare ; 
But  angel  pens  record  above 

My  promised  watchful  care. 


278  POEMS  OF  A.   B.    WHITING. 


WHENE'ER  IN  SLEEP   THE   EYELIDS   CLOSE. 

Whene'er  in  sleep  the  eyelids  close, 

Kind  angels  aye  their  vigils  keep, 
The  weary  heart  can  find  repose, 

And  joy  return  to  those  who  weep. 
Fell  disappointment's  arrow-dart 

The  quiet  dreamer  glances  by ; 
The  form  at  rest,  the  saddened  heart. 

Knows  not  the  anguish  often  nigh. 

Whene'er  in  sleep  the  eyelids  close 
The  weary  heart  can  find  repose  ; 

When  still  in  death  the  eyes  shall  close, 
The  weary  heart  will  find  repose. 

Some  fairy  dream  may  cheer  the  soul, 

Made  sad  and  careworn,  all  the  day ; 
Some  vision  bright  may  purely  roll, 

To  light  the  darkness  of  the  way. 
Sleep,  fair  one,  sleep,  while  fancies  glide ; 

Dreams  that  while  waking  ne'er  may  be ; 
Fond  hopes  and  pure  thy  visions  guide ; 

Waking  thou'rt  sad,  asleep  made  free. 

When  still  in  death  the  eyes  shall  close, 
And  sorrowing  friends  so  lonely  weep, 

Some  weary  heart  has  found  repose, 
While  pitying  angels  love-watch  keep. 


PUBLISHED   SONGS.  279 

There  is  a  life  that  knows  no  end, 

Not  all  a  dream,  a  fancy  wild,  — 
There,  too,  are  joys  that  sweetly  blend, 

And  thrill  the  soul  with  accents  mild. 

When  still  in  death  the  eyelids  close, 
The  weary  heart  can  find  repose ; 

When  still  in  death  the  eyes  shall  close, 
The  weary  heart  will  find  repose. 


SWEET  BE   THY   DREAMS,   ALIDA. 

Sweet  be  thy  dreams,  Alida  ; 

Soft  memories  o'er  thee  glide  : 
May  happy  thoughts  for  ever 

Gayly  shine  thy  steps  to  guide. 
When  love-lit  eyes  are  beaming, 

In  fanciful  vision  free, 
May  hearts  with  more  than  seeming, 

Most  truly  confide  in  thee  ; 
May  hearts  with  more  than  seeming 

Most  truly  confide  in  thee. 

Sweet  be  thy  dreams 

Sweet  be  thy  dreams, 
And  gentle  memories  o'er  thee  glide, 

Sweet  be  thy  dreams 

Sweet  be  thy  dreams 
And  gentle  memories  o'er  thee  glide. 

When  thou  shalt  wake,  Alida, 
To  find  that  the  dream  has  fled, 

May  sorrow's  thorn  crown  never 
Rest  heavily  on  thy  head. 


280  POEMS     OF  A.   B.    WHITING. 

May  all  thy  days  be  happy, 

As  the  dreams  of  night  foretell ; 

Then  more  than  joy  can  rally 
To  the  sound  of  memory's  bell. 

Then  more  than  joy  can  rally 
To  the  sound  of  memory's  bell. 


SPIRIT  OF  LIGHT,   LOVE,   AND  BEAUTY. 

Spirit  of  light,  love,  and  beauty, 
Bind  for  me  thy  golden  band, 

Teach  my  heart  to  know  its  duty, 
Guide  me  to  your  glorious  land. 

Spirit  of  light,  love,  and  beauty, 
I  implore  thee,  smile  on  me. 

Spirit  of  bright  joy  and  gladness, 
Twine  for  all  thy  silvery  lay ; 

Banish  error,  fear,  and  sadness ; 
Lead  us  to  the  wisdom  way. 

Soul  of  song,  we  hail  thee  gladly, 

Coming  with  thy  holy  calm ; 
Healing  every  mind  that  sadly 

Wanders  from  thy  blessed  charm. 

Spirit  of  light,  love,  and  beauty, 
Chant  for  all  thy  lovely  song, 

Lead  us  aye  in  paths  of  duty, 
Till  we  join  the  angel  throng. 


PUBLISHED   SONGS.  281 


AMINTA   MIA. 

Although  we  never  met  before, 

Light  in  thy  pathway  shone  ; 
In  beauty  wrapt  thee  o'er  and  o'er, 
In  beauty  wrapt  thee  o'er  and  o'er. 
Calm  was  the  soul  that  gleamed  from  'neath 

Each  eyebrow's  penciled  throne, 
Soft  smiles  thy  face  in  gladness  wreathe, 

Aminta,  mia  or  a  belle. 

Aminta,  mia  ora  belle. 

Thine  be  the  holy  mission  pure, 

Enveloped  in  life's  care, 
With  those  to  dwell  whose  loves  endure, 
With  those  to  dwell  whose  loves  endure. 
And  while  on  earth  thy  love  shall  glow, 

Radiant,  bright  and  rare, 
Trust,  angels  watch  thy  path  below, 

Aminta,  mia  ora  belle. 

Aminta,  mia  ora  belle. 


LELA   TREFAINE. 

Lela  Trefaike,  the  month  of  October  is  near, 
The  mocking  birds  sing  in  the  palm  tree, 
The  grosbeck's  shrill  whistle  you  hear 
Echo  sweetly  and  clear. 


282  POEMS    OF  A    B    WHITING. 

Friendship  of  yore,  thy  harmonies  never  can  cease, 
Bringing  back  happy  joys  to  me, 
Bright  joys  that  life's  treasures  increase, 
Joy  of  freedom  and  peace. 

Come  once  again,  happy  days, 
Blessed  days  of  fortune  and  peace  , 
Come  once  again,  blessed  days, 
Life  treasures  that  ever  increase. 

Lela  Trefaine,  the  river  rolls  sluggishly  by, 
The  cypress  and  willow  bend  low ; 
O'er  graves  of  the  parted  they  sigh  ; 

"  They  fought  but  to  die." 
Answer  me  back,  ye  night  birds,  that  warble  so 

free ; 
Tell  again  of  the  days  long  ago, 
And  friends  that  were  cherished  by  me, 

Ere  I  crossed  the  blue  sea. 

Lela  Trefaine,  in  the  land  of  strangers  I  roam, 
Far  from  my  own  native  south-land 
From  thee  and  my  dearly  loved  home  ; 

Yet  in  fancy  I  come. 
Never  forgot ;  for,  treasured  in  memory's  shrine, 
As  touched  by  affection's  love-wand, 
Blessed  remembrance  ever  will  twine  ; 

Early  friends,  love  divine. 

Lela  Trefaine,  the  mignonettes  bloom  as  of  old, 
When  we  gathered  them  side  by  side ; 
The  night-jasmine  petals  unfold ; 
Dewy  petals  of  gold. 


PUBLISHED   SONGS.  283 

Joy  to  the  soul !  in  spirit  I  cross  the  dark  sea ; 
Once  more  o'er  the  waters  I  glide  : 
There's  hope  in  the  future  for  me  ;  — 
Home,  freedom,  and  thee. 


Cbroup  YE- 

EVYRR  ALLYNN;   OR,  THE   OUTCAST. 

The  cold  snow  is  falling,  the  bleak  hills  are  dreary, 

Wild  is  the  way,  and  the  daylight  is  past, 
Night  shades  fast  falling,  dark,  lonely  and  cheerless, 

O,  when  will  my  weary  limbs  find  rest  at  last  ? 
I  will  sleep  on  the  hillside,  among  the  white  snowdrifts, 

Nor  cover  my  face  from  the  rain  and  the  sleet, 
For  when  I  awake  some  good  angel  may  find  me 

A  haven  of  rest  for  my  wandering  feet. 

Evyrr  Allynn, 
The  wild  flowers  now  bloom  o'er  thy  grave, 

By  the  side  of  the  silent  river ; 
The  frost-king  has  fled  from  the  hillside ; 
Rest  in  peace  with  the  heavenly  giver ! 
Evyrr  Allynn  !     Evyrr  Allynn  ! 

In  all  the  wide  world  there  is  no  one  to  cheer  me  ; 

Friendless  and  sad  I  wander  alone  ; 
I  will  turn  from  the  world  that  has  left  me  in  sorrow, 

To  the  path  that  leads  up  to  a  happier  home. 


284  POEMS   OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

Far,  far  in  the  distance,  above  the  bleak  tree-tops, 
The  white  wings  of  angels  gleam  through  the  dark  sky ; 

How  kindly  and  sweetly  they  gaze  on  the  outcast ; 
Their  soft  eyes  will  smile  on  the  heath  as  I  lie. 

Yes,  this  night  with  my  child  I  will  rest  on  the  hillside, 

Nor  shelter  my  form  from  the  pitiless  blast ; 
For  an  angel  hath  whispered,  "  Thy  sins  are  forgiven, 

And  thou  shalt  awaken  in  heaven  at  last." 
Thus,  when  the  gray  morning  stole  over  the  tree-tops, 

And  o'er  the  dark  mountains  a  ghastly  light  shed, 
It  fell  on  two  faces,  that  looked  up  to  heaven ; 

Two  forms  from  which  the  spirit  had  fled. 


OLD  DOCTOR  BONDS. 

My  name  is  Doctor  Bonds,  —  who  are  you  ? 
They  say  I'm  a  leech ;  that  is  true  ; 
I've  bled  the  country  well  since  sixty-two  ; 
I'm  bound  to  have  my  gold,  spite  of  you. 

So  sings  old  Doctor  Bonds,  in  his  glee, 
And  quaffs  his  brandy  tod,  taxes  free, 
And  bleeds  the  working-men,  don't  you  see  ? 
Takes  two  for  one,  and  more,  taxes  free. 

Asleep  fell  Doctor  Bonds  in  his  chair, 
One  Sunday  summer  day,  sultry  air ; 
He  had  a  frightful  dream  —  a  nightmare,  — 
As  he  slept,  that  summer  day,  in  his  chair. 


PUBLISHED   SONGS.  285 

He  dreamed  he  was  afloat  on  the  sea, 
In  a  vessel  made  of  bonds,  taxes  free  ; 
Strange  voices  filled  the  air,  wild  with  glee, 
Sang,  "  Sink  old  Doctor  Bonds  in  the  sea." 

'Tis  voices  of  the  poor  who  pay  tax ; 

We've  worked  for  you  too  long,  now  "make  tracks," 

We'll  make  you  take  your  pay  with  a  tax, 

The  same  you  paid  to  us  in  greenbacks. 

We'll  wake  old  Doctor  Bonds  with  a  song 
Of  white  men  and  their  rights  —  mighty  throng ; 
We'll  shout,  in  Freedom's  name,  Right  the  wrong ! 
Make  hill  and  vale  resound,  loud  and  long. 

Hark  !  the  echoes  ring  ; 

High  the  banner  fling  ; 
The  banner  of  equal  taxation ; 

Ten  thousand  garlands  bring  ; 

Myriad  voices  sing ; 
Columbia  sees  hope  for  the  nation. 


®mwp  TO. 

STRIKE  THE  HARP  IN  NATURE'S   PRAISE. 

O,  the  budding  leaves  of  spring-time, 
With  their  lovely  verdure  bright 

Are  filling  the  earth  with  beauty, 
And  the  soul  with  calm  delight. 

Are  filling  the  earth  with  beauty, 
And  the  soul  with  calm  delight, 


286  POEMS   OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

Then  strike  the  harp  in  nature's  praise, 
For  all  things  bright  and  gay, 

For  soon  the  autumn  days  will  come, 
And  the  flowerets  pass  away. 

O,  the  roses  come  in  summer, 

With  their  fragrance,  sweet  and  rare, 

A  glorious,  bright  new  comer, 
Whose  brilliance  fills  the  air ; 

A  glorious,  bright  new  comer, 
Whose  brilliance  fills  the  air. 

Now  the  autumn  days  are  near  us, 
With  the  sere  and  yellow  leaf ; 

But  golden  grains  shall  cheer  us, 
And  promise  earth  relief ; 

But  golden  grains  shall  cheer  us, 
And  promise  earth  relief. 

It  is  thus  with  fleeting  hours, 
In  the  life  of  man  on  earth  ; 

He  comes  like  the  spring-time  flowers, 
And  falls  in  autumn's  dearth ; 

He  comes  like  the  spring-time  flowers^ 
And  falls  in  autumn's  dearth. 

But  there  is  a  land  of  beauty, 
Of  wisdom,  love,  and  truth, 

Where,  in  the  path  of  duty, 
We  shall  live  in  endless  youth ; 

Where  in  the  path  of  duty, 
We  shall  live  in  endless  youth. 


PUBLISHED   SONGS.  287 

Then  strike  the  harp  in  nature's  praise, 

For  all  things  bright  and  gay ! 
For,  though  the  flowers  of  earth-land  fade, 

We  shall  live  in  endless  day ; 
For  though  the  flowers  of  earth-land  fade, 

We  shall  live  in  endless  day. 


WAITING,  ONLY  WAITING. 

I  AM  waiting,  only  waiting, 

For  the  dawning  of  the  day, 
When  the  joys  of  life  relating, 
I  shall  walk  the  heavenly  way ; 
Then  no  longer  sadly  waiting, 
I  shall  sound  the  joyful  lay ; 
Then  no  longer  sadly  waiting, 
I  shall  sound  the  joyful  lay. 

I  am  waiting,  hoping,  trusting, 

That  the  future  fair  and  bright, 
Every  wrong  and  ill  adjusting, 
Shall  announce  the  rule  of  right ; 
Then  no  longer  sadly  waiting, 
I  shall  see  the  joyful  sight ; 
Then  no  longer  sadly  waiting, 
I  shall  see  the  joyful  sight. 

I  am  waiting  in  the  twilight 

Of  a  morning  yet  to  be, 
When  upon  my  fading  eyesight 

Angel  forms  shall  come  to  me  ; 


288  POEMS   OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

Then  no  longer  sadly  waiting, 
Heavenly  glories  I  shall  see  ; 

Then  no  longer  sadly  waiting, 
Heavenly  glories  I  shall  see. 

Thus  we  all  through  life  are  waiting 

For  the  coming  of  the  morn, 
When,  life's  pleasure  reinstating, 
We  shall  be  as  angels  born ; 
Then  no  longer  sadly  waiting, 

We  shall  hail  the  glorious  dawn ; 
Then,  no  longer  sadly  waiting, 
We  shall  hail  the  glorious  dawn. 


THE  IDEAL  AND    THE  REAL.  289 


THE  IDEAL  AND   THE  REAL. 

AN  ABSTRACT  OF  A  LECTURE  DELIVERED  BEFORE  THE 
MARSHALL  (MICHIGAN)  LECTURE  ASSOCIATION,  BY 
A.   B.   WHITING,   FEBRUARY   25,    1870. 

Webster  defines  the  Ideal  to  be  a  conception  of  the 
mind  proposed  for  imitation,  realization,  or  attainment, 
while  the  Real  is  that  which  actually  exists. 

It  is  the  nature  of  man  to  aspire,  to  hope  and  strive 
for  something  better  in  the  future  for  himself,  and  for 
those  who  come  after  him.  He  forms  an  ideal  of  that 
good  which  he  desires,  and  labors  earnestly  to  attain  it. 
All  improvements  and  inventions  first  exist  in  the  human 
mind,  in  the  mind  of  an  idealist. 

The  speaker  referred  at  length  to  the  ideal  in  art  and 
mechanism,  and  drew  a  graphic  picture  of  the  idealist 
Galileo,  as  he  bowed  before  the  throne  of  the  Sovereign 
Pontiff  and  tendered  him  the  wonderful  telescope  he 
had  invented,  asking  not  honors,  but  mercy,  and  was 
hurried  away  to  a  dungeon ;  while  the  Pope  declared, 
by  virtue  of  his  infallibility,  that  the  world  was  im- 
movable. 

The  railway  and  the  steam  engine  are  very  real  to  us, 
but  a  few  years  ago  they  had  no  existence,  save  as  an 
ideal  in  the  mind  of  man ;  and  when  Stephenson  first 
proposed  to  build  a  steam  carriage  to  run  on  rails,  and 
claimed  that  he  could  attain  a  speed  of  twenty  miles 
19 


290  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.   B.    WHITING. 

an  hour,  his  friends  said,  "  Don't  I  nobody  will  believe 
it  possible ;  just  say  nine  or  ten  miles  an  hour  and  we 
will  try  and  help  you."  But  when  the  engine  was  built 
it  did  run  twenty  miles  an  hour,  to  their  great  astonish- 
ment ;  and  now  it  seems  very  strange  to  us  that  its  suc- 
cess should  have  been  doubted. 

.  Franklin  was  an  idealist,  and  his  theories  laughed  at 
by  the  intensely  practical  men  of  his  day,  until  he  drew 
the  lightning  from  the  clouds  to  testify  for  him.  After 
him  came  another  idealist,  Morse.  His  mind  had  con- 
ceived the  possibility  of  making  electricity  the  servant 
of  man  for  the  conveyance  of  thought.  He  asked  Con- 
gress for  aid  to  enable  him  to  demonstrate  his  theory, 
but  was  met  with  sneers  and  gibes  by  the  wiseacres  of 
only  twenty  years  ago ;  and  an  honorable  member,  think- 
ing to  kill  the  wild  scheme  at  once  and  forever  by  turn- 
ing it  into  ridicule,  proposed  that  one  third  of  the  sum 
appropriated  be  given  to  Father  Miller,  to  aid  in  de- 
monstrating his  theory  of  the  end  of  the  world,  and 
another  third  to  the  investigation  of  the  claims  of  the 
Book  of  Mormon.  The  name  of  this  sapient  legislator  is 
preserved  only  in  the  columns  of  the  Congressional 
Globe  of  that  date,  while  that  of  Morse  is  known  and 
honored  wherever  the  click  of  the  telegraph  is  heard. 

All  men  are,  in  some  sense,  idealists.  We  divide  them 
into  three  classes,  which  we  call  the  retrospective,  the 
taciturn,  and  the  progressive.  The  Retrospective  Ideal- 
ist looks  continually  to  the  past,  and  is  always  mourn- 
ing for  the  good  old  days  that  will  never  return,  and 
lamenting  the  degeneracy  of  the  present.  He  looks  at 
the  past  through  a  rose-colored  lens,  and  sees  only  its 
beauties,  while  its  evils  are  forgotten.  This  class  of 
idealists  has  always  existed.     Macaulay  tells  us  that  the 


THE  IDEAL  AND  THE  REAL.  291 

ancient  Saxons  were  wont  to  mourn  the  good  old  days 
of  their  fathers;  and  Ossian  sings  of  the  heroes  and 
bards  of  former  times,  and  laments  the  decline  of  valor 
and  of  song.  The  province  of  this  class  of  idealists  is  to 
preserve  the  records  of  the  past,  which  might  otherwise 
be  lost.  The  Taciturn  Idealist  sees  only  the  present, 
and  if  he  said  anything,  it  would  be  like  this :  "  Life  is, 
has  been,  and  will  be  always  the  same."  There  is  really 
neither  advancement  nor  retrogression ;  that  which  seems 
so  is  only  the  ebbing  and  flowing  of  waves,  which  ex- 
actly balance  each  other,  and  so  the  equilibrium  is 
maintained.  On  the  other  hand,  the  Progressive  Idealist 
says,  Life,  indeed,  is  a  sea ;  it  has  its  ebb  tides  and  its 
flood  tides ;  but  every  flood  tide  raises  us  a  little  higher 
than  the  preceding,  while  the  ebb  tide  sinks  not  quite  so 
low;  and  so  goes  on  the  grand  march  of  ideas  realized  in 
the  progress  of  civilization. 

The  speaker  then  sketched,  in  brief,  the  progress  of 
civilization  from  its  birthplace  in  the  far  east  until  now, 
having  swept  over  this  continent,  it  is  breaking  down 
the  barriers  with  which  the  inhabitants  of  the  celestial 
empire  were  wont  to  exclude  all  outside  barbarians. 
Having  paid,  in  passing,  an  eloquent  tribute  to  the  great 
idealists  who  were  the  founders  of  our  government, 
Mr.  Whiting  then  proceeded  to  speak  of  the  wild  fan- 
cies of  fanatics,  or  idealists  run  mad,  classing  among 
these  those  men  who  expected  to  reform  the  world  in  a 
day  by  the  adoption  of  their  pet  hobby  or  belief ;  those 
who  thought  they  could  invent  perpetual  motion ;  and 
the  man  who  said  he  could  lift  himself  in  a  bushel 
basket,  and  excused  his  failure  by  the  remark  that  he 
had  done  it  a  great  many  times,  but  was  not  as  strong 
as  he  used  to  be. 


292  BIOGRAPHY  OF  A.  B.    WHITING. 

An  idealist  becomes  a  fanatic  when  he  proposes  to 
contravene  natural  law,  known  and  capable  of  mathe- 
matical demonstration ;  but  outside  the  domain  of  jmre 
mathematics  it  is  not  wise  to  pronounce  the  word  im- 
possible ;  for  that  which  seems  to  us  so  to-day  may  in 
the  light  of  to-morrow  appear  the  most  natural  of 
events.  When  Stephenson  told  the  British  Parliament 
that  a  steam-engine  could  be  made  to  travel  twenty 
miles  an  hour,  the  wiseacres  of  his  day,  all  the  world, 
said,  "It  is  impossible."  When  Morse  proposed  the 
telegraph,  an  enlightened  American  people  said,  "  It  is 
impossible."  Even  when  it  was  first  proposed  to  build  a 
railroad  from  Boston  to  Albany,  a  member  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts legislature,  in  a  speech  opposing  the  bill,  said, 
"  If  it  could  be  done  it  would  never  pay  expenses,  but  it 
is  a  natural  impossibility" 

Nevertheless,  railroads  and  telegraphs  span  the  world 
with  their  network  of  power  and  intelligence,  and,  in 
the  light  of  history,  it  behooves  us  to  be  careful  how  we 
pronounce  anything  impossible  ;  but  when  a  new  theory 
presents  itself,  we  should  investigate  its  claims,  and  give 
it  a  chance  to  demonstrate  its  truth. 

In  conclusion,  the  speaker  urged  the  necessity  of  a 
noble  ideal  as  an  incentive  to  the  acquirement  of  knowl- 
edge and  the  practice  of  virtue.  "  We  should  not," 
said  he,  "  become  mere  imitators,  or  try  to  make  all  think 
alike,  to  cast  all  minds  in  the  same  mold,  as  has  been  the 
dream  of  some  ;  this  is  as  absurd  as  the  idea  of  Pro- 
crustes' making  all  men  fit  his  iron  bedstead.  It  is  not 
exact  similitude,  but  unity  in  diversity,  which  is  the 
plan  of  nature.  As  the  diverse  portions  of  country,  so 
widely  different  in  soil,  climate,  and  productions,  go  to 
make  up  our  great  composite  nationality,  and  as  we  do 


THE  IDEAL  AND    THE  REAL.  293 

not  strive  to  make  all  similar,  and  yield  similar  product*, 
but  rather  to  develop  the  resources  peculiar  to  each,  so 
should  we  strive,  not  to  move  all  minds  in  the  same 
channel,  but  to  each  develop  his  own  individuality  by 
the  culture  of  all  that  is  noblest  and  best  in  himself. 
So  shall  each  fill  his  own  place,  and  so,  in  the  great 
nationality  of  mind,  shall  be  preserved  that  unity  in 
diversity  which  is  the  gage  of  harmony  and  progress. 


